Nurses at STEGH are thrilled at the prospect of finally saying goodbye to beds that have strained their muscles and patience in recent years.

Jackie Moore RN - has been at the Hospital 22 years, says “I was so excited when I was told we were getting new beds.” She agrees with a Foundation survey that found bed replacement was the number-one priority for nurses. “That was at the top of my list.We’ve been struggling with the old ones for years.” She encounters broken beds daily, struggling to put side rails up and down. “They are heavy. It exhausts you at the end of the day.” Features of proposed new beds excite her. One model can turn a patient weighing as much as 400 pounds from side to side.	Marilyn Howey RN - has been at STEGH 34 years. She recalled the even-older beds that preceded the current ones. Nurses had to put casters on to move the beds, and siderails “took up half the room.” The current beds were wonderful when they arrived, but that was many years ago. Hospital beds see a lot of use. “It’s 24 hours a day that somebody is lying in them. The current beds are quite a strain on the nurses.We’re not getting any younger.We’ve all had aches and pains from it.” Bedside tables and overbed tables also break frequently. “Anything new would be an improvement,” easing the workload of nurses and improving the comfort of patients
Cathy DeVree RN - has been at the Hospital 30 years, works in pre- and post-operative units. “We sometimes have to move 6 to 10 beds a day.” At least two persons are needed to move the heavy beds safely. She frequently encounters beds that are broken. Two nurses might have to hold up the head of the bed or, once in the raised position, can’t force it down again. New beds would be especially welcome in the surgery wards. Often, patients are in a condition where they can’t be moved out of their beds. New beds could shift patients to a full sitting position. “Wonderful,” she said. The 20-year-old beds now in use “were wonderful in their day,” but they have absorbed a lot of wear and tear over the years. “Now they have dips and dives and creases in the mattresses.” She compares the hospital beds to her bed at home, which has been replaced four times over the last 30 years.	Mary Ivan RN - is an experienced nurse who has worked on the Hospital’s surgery units for three years. She describes the current beds as “antiquated”. They break down often. “The whole mechanism of the beds is disastrous. “We spend a lot of time switching beds, but they’re hard to move and steer.” Surgical patients may be bedridden for a length of time. The new beds will have a patientfriendly mattress providing comfort for the patients skin health which reduces pressure areas. She lauds a model new bed she recently saw. “The ease of getting them up and down is phenomenal.” Moving it is much easier too. “The old beds, it’s like they’ve got square wheels.” She can’t wait for the day the new beds arrive. “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s awesome. I’m excited.”
Sue McEachren RN - a 23-year STEGH veteran, has been frustrated by bed breakdowns for the last 10 years. “The biggest problem has been the heads of the beds. The motors are dying, and you have to help it lift.” This is awkward and puts the nurse at risk of a muscle strain. Nurses don’t have a choice if a patient is choking.That patient’s head needs to be raised to alleviate the condition, and nurses do what they have to. “It will be like heaven” when the new beds arrive.	Pat Sullivan RN - has been a nurse at STEGH for 22 years. She started to notice recurring problems with beds five years ago, and now encounters them “about daily.” One of the most unusual things happened recently. “The lady was just lying there in bed, and it started vibrating for no reason.” And it isn’t designed to vibrate. That baffled Pat and disconcerted the patient. Many beds no longer have headboards, and sometimes railings fall off, creating a clamour. “And you can only flip a mattress so many times.” She looks forward to the arrival of the new beds. “This is going to be great. It’s going to help us a lot.”