POSITIONING

Bed position for client care

Position Placement
Semi-Fowlers Head of bed 30 angle

Low-Fowlers Head of bed 15 angle

Position Placement

Trendelenburgs Head of bed

lowered and foot
raised

Reverse Bed frame is titles

trendelenburgs up with foot of the
bed
Amputation: lower extremity
- No pillows under stump after first 24 hours
- Turn patient prone several times a day
Appendicitis: ruptured

- Keep in fowlers position - not flat in bed

Burns (extensive)

- Usually flat for first 24 hours

Cast, extremity
- Keep extremity elevated
Craniotomy
- Head elevated with supratentorial incision
- flat with cerebellar or brainstem incision
Flail chest
- Position on affected side
Gastric resection
- Lie down after meals
Hiatal hernia (before repaired)

- Head of the bed is elevated with shock

blocks
Hip prosthesis

- Keep affected leg in abduction (splint or pillow between

legs)
- Avoid adduction and flexion of the hip
- Use trochanter roll along outside of femur anterior
joints capsule incision to keep affected leg turned
slightly inward
- No trochanter roll with posterior joint capsule incision
as leg is turned slightly outward
Laminectomy; fusion

- Avoid twisting motion when getting out of

bed, ambulating
Liver biopsy

Place on right side, and position pillow

for pressure
Lobectomy
- Do not put in Trendelenberg position
- position of comfort - sides, back
Mastectomy
- Do not abduct arm first few days
Pneumonectomy
- Turn only toward operative side for short
periods
- No extreme lateral positioning
Radium implantation in cervix

- Bed rest - usually may elevate to

30 degrees
Respiratory distress

- Orthopnea position usually

desirable
Retinal detachment
- Affected area toward bed - complete bed rest
- No sudden movements of head
- Face down if gas bubble in place
Straight traction
- Check specific orders about how much
head may be elevated
Balanced suspension traction
- May give patient more freedom to
move a bout than in straight traction
Unconscious patient
- Turn on side with head slightly
lowered - coma position
Ileofemoral bypass; arterial insufficiency
- Do not elevate legs
Vein strippings; vein ligations
- Keep legs elevated