Positions used in nursing

 Position is a style someone is put in bed. The patient has to change position regularly

The importance of position in nursing

position in nursing is very impotant in becuse the quick recovery of a patient depends on it

• For comfort
• To relieve pain
• For easy performance of nursing procedures.
• It prevents tears during childbirth
• Prevent complications like pressure sores
• Reduce intracranial pressure
• Improve on the breathing

Different positions used in nursing

• Recumbent position/supine position
• Semi recumbent position
• Dorsal position
• Prone position
• Semi-prone position/recovery position/sim position
• Lateral position
• Trendelenburg position
• Sitting up position
• Lithotomy
• knee-chest position /Genu pectoral position.

Requirement for positioning

These are materials used to position a patient to provide comfort or support the patient

• Requirement are
• Pillow
• Back rest
• Foot rest
• Bed cradle
• Special tables like theather table

Recumbent position/supine position

This is when the patient lies flat on his or her back with one pillow

Requirement

• Trolly containing
• pillows
• A small pillow
• Apron
• Disposable glove

At the bed side

•  A screen for providing privacy
• Hand washing equipment for washing hand

Procedure for positioning in the recumbent position for a non-paralysed patient

• Explain the procedure to the patient to obtain his or her consent and build trust.
• Screen the bed to provide privacy
• Bring the trolley near the patient’s bedside for easy access.
• Put on an apron
• Wash your hands and put on gloves
• Turn the patient to lie flat on the back
• Place the pillow under the head and the shoulder
• Place a small pillow under the lumber curve to prevent strain in the area
• Ask the patient if comfortable
• Thank the patient
• Clear away
• Remove the glove and wash your hands
• Record the procedure

Procedure for positioning in the recumbent position for a paralysed patient

• Requirements
• Trolly containing
• pillows
• A small pillow
• Foot rest
• Apron
• Hand roll
• Disposable glove

At the bedside

·       A screen for providing privacy

·       Hand washing equipment for washing hands

Procedure

• ·       Explain the procedure to the patient to obtain his or her consent and build trust.
• ·       Screen the bed to provide privacy
• ·       Bring the trolly near the patient bed side for easy accesses.
• ·       Put on apron
• ·       Wash hand and put on glove
• ·       Turn the patient to lie flat on the back
• ·       Place the pillow under the head and the shoulder
• ·       Place a small pillow to support the arm
• ·       Place a special hand splint on the in case of contracture
• ·       Place a pillow along the lateral aspect of the thighs
• ·       Place the pillow under the thigh superior to popliteal space
• ·       Place a foot rest
• ·       leave the patient comfortably
• ·       Clear away
• ·       Remove the glove and Wash hand
• ·       Record the procedure

Semi recumbent position

This is the position where a ptient is semi -propped up in bed(half sitting on bed) using three pillows without back rest

It is used for patient who are ;

recovering from illness

for passing nasogastric tube

wants to read book in bed

requirements for positioning in semi-recumbent position

Trolly containing

pillows

Apron

Disposable glove

At the bed side

·       A screen for providing privacy

·       Hand washing equipment for washing hand

Procedure for positioning a patient in semi recumbent position

·       Explain the procedure to the patient to obtain his or her consent and build trust.

·       Screen the bed to provide privacy

·       Bring the trolly near the patient bed side for easy accesses.

·       Put on apron

·       Wash hand and put on glove

·       Support the patient to sit

·       Put the three-pillow at the back to support the back

·       Put one pillow to support the foot

·       Ask the patient if comfortable

·       Thank the patient

·       Clear away

·       Remove glove and wash hand

·       Document the procedure

Dorsal position

This is a position where a patient lies flat on the back with the head and the shoulder slightly raised on one or two pillows ,thigh,  flexed and the knee abduct.

It is used in

 vaginal examination

child birth.

Evacuation

Insertion of intra uterine devise(IUD)

Removing intrauterine devise

Cervical cancer screening

requirements for positioning in dorsal position

Trolly containing

pillows

Apron                                                                                   

Disposable glove

At the bed side

·       A screen for providing privacy

·       Hand washing equipment for washing hand

Procedure for positioning in dorsal position

·       Explain the procedure to the patient to obtain his or her consent and build trust.

·       Screen the bed to provide privacy

·       Bring the trolly near the patient bed side for easy accesses.

·       Put on apron

·       Wash hand and put on glove

·       Turn the patient to lie flat on the back

·       Place the pillow under the head and the shoulder

·       Flex the thigh

·       Abduct the knee

·       Ask the patient if comfortable

·       Thank the patient

·       Clear away

·       Remove glove and wash hand

·       Document the procedure

The prone position

This is when the patient lies flat on the abdomen with the head supported by a pillow

Indication for prone position

To relief pressure from the hip and sacrum

Burn on the Back

Fracture of the supine

Pressure ulcer

For comfort

requirements for positioning in prone position

Trolly containing

pillows

Apron                                                                                   

Disposable glove

At the bed side

·       A screen for providing privacy

·       Hand washing equipment for washing hand

Procedure for positioning in supine position

·       Explain the procedure to the patient to obtain his or her consent and build trust.

·       Screen the bed to provide privacy

·       Bring the trolly near the patient bed side for easy accesses.

·       Put on apron

·       Wash hand and put on glove

·       Turn the patient to lie flat on the abdomen

·       Place the pillow under the head to support the head

·       Turn the head on one side

·       Flexed the arms at the side

·       Place one pillow under the diaphragm

·       Place the pillow under the lower legs

·       Ask the patient if comfortable

·       Thank the patient

·       Clear away

·       Remove glove and wash hand

·       Document the procedure

Lateral position

Is when the patient lies on the side with a pillow under the head.

Lateral position is used in(where lateral position is use)

Rectal examination

Lumber puncher

Manual extraction of the stool

Giving enema

Relieving pressure from the greater trochanter preventing pressure sore

For resting and formfort

requirements for positioning in lateral position

Trolly containing

pillows

Apron                                                                                   

Disposable glove

At the bed side

·       A screen for providing privacy

·       Hand washing equipment for washing hand

Procedure for positioning in lateral position

·       Explain the procedure to the patient to obtain his or her consent and build trust.

·       Screen the bed to provide privacy

·       Bring the trolly near the patient bed side for easy accesses.

·       Put on apron

·       Wash hand and put on glove

·       Turn the patient to lie of the side

·       Place the pillow under the head to support the head

·       Flex both arm Infront of the patient’s body

·       Position the upper arm on a pillow

·       Position the lower arm with the finger pointing at the head of the bed

·       Flex both leg

·       Flex the upper leg more than the lower leg

·       Place the pillow in between the leg

·       Place a pillow behind the patient back

·       Place the small pillow under the natural curve of the waist

·       Ask the patient if comfortable

·       Thank the patient

·       Clear away

·       Remove glove and wash hand

·       Document the procedure

Sim-position/recovery position/semi-prone position

This is the position where a patient lies on the left lateral side with the arm behind without pillow on the head

Use of Sim-position/recovery position/semi-prone position

Unconscious patient

Post operative patient recovery from anaesthesia

Preventing the tongue from falling backward

Procedure for positioning in dorsal position

·       Explain the procedure to the attendant to obtain his or her consent and build trust.

·       Screen the bed to provide privacy

·       Put on apron

·       Wash hand and put on glove

·       Turn the patient to lie on the side slightly prone

·       Place a small towel to protect the bed from secretion

·       Place the bottom arm behind the back

·       Flex the arm on top at the elbow and shoulder

·       Position the finger pointing at the head of the bed

·       Flex both leg at the knee and the hip

·       Flex the upper leg slightly more than the lower leg

·       Clear away

·       Remove glove and wash hand

·       Document the procedure

Trendelenburg position

This is a position where a patient lies on the back on the theatre table and the head is tilted down at the angle of 45⁰

In ordinary bed the patient lies flat on the bed and the foot of the bed is lifted with bd block

Use of the Trendelenburg position

Pelvic operation

Gynaecology surgery