What is the name of the structural support attached to the frame of the bed and intended to prevent a patient from falling?

• A. Bed Guards
• B. Side Rails
• C. Headboard
• D. Footboard

Answer: (B)

Side rails are the bars attached to the sides of the bed frame that create a barrier to help prevent a patient from rolling or sliding out of bed. They provide something to grasp for support when repositioning or getting in and out with assistance, boosting safety during rest and care tasks. Use them according to the care plan: ensure they’re securely attached, raise them when the patient is in bed, and lower them during transfers if allowed, while always checking for entrapment risks and ensuring the mattress fits snugly between the rails. Headboard and footboard are the ends of the bed and aren’t the primary fall-prevention barriers, and bed guards is a broader term that can refer to similar devices, but the attached barrier on the frame is best described as side rails.