POSITIONS

Positioning Patients
Positioning

that maintains correct body alignment

and
Facilitates physiologic functioning contributes to
the patients psychological and physical wellbeing.

 Standing

position
Sitting position
Fowlers Position
Supine
or Dorsal
Recumbent Position
Side-lying or Lateral
Position ( Rt / Lt)

Prone

Position

Sims
Trendelenburg
Lithotomy
Knee

Chest Position:

Standing position:
head

is held erect,
back is kept straight, chest is put forward,
shoulders are kept back,
elbows are slightly flexed, wrists are extended,
fingers are slightly flexed,
abdomen is drawn inward and kept flat,
knees are slightly flexed, and are pointing ahead and
parallel to each other about 3 inches apart.

 should

not be used for patients who are weak,

dizzy, or prone to fall.
It is used to assess posture, balance, and gait
(while walking upright).

Sitting position :
In sitting position, the weight of the body is balanced
by ischial tuberosities the buttocks and the thighs.
Elbows are flexed and supported,
hips are flexed at right angles to the trunk,
knees are flexed at right angles to the thighs,
Back is held erect and
the back and buttocks are supported by the back of
the chair.

 facilitates

full lung expansion,

and is used to assess vital signs

Fowlers Position
The

semi sitting position, or Fowlers position,

the head of the bed to be elevated 45 to 60
degrees.
used to promote cardiac and respiratory
functioning
position of choice for eating, conversation, vision,
and urinary and intestinal elimination.

 This

position is used for

patients with dyspnoea (difficulty in breathing),
distended abdomen,
abdominal surgery,
Cardiothoracic disorders and ascites.
The position is also useful while passing Ryles tube
and
performing tapping of ascites fluid.

 high

Fowlers -head of the bed is elevated 90

degrees.
In low Fowlers or semi-Fowlers position-30
degrees.

Supine or Dorsal Recumbent Position

the

patient lies flat on the back with the head and

shoulders slightly elevated with a pillow

 Most

of the patients are nursed in this position.

Side-lying or Lateral Position

lateral

aspect of the lower scapula and

the lateral aspect of the lower ilium.

 This

position is used for general comfort, rest and

relaxation.
During back care, patient is placed in lateral
position.
Left lateral position is used for vaginal, perineal
and rectal examinations, and
For post operative patients -to maintain a clear
airway.

Oblique position
The

patient turns toward the side with the hip of

the top leg flexed at a 30-degree angle and the
knee flexed at 35 degrees.

Sims position.
Patient

lies on the side, but the lower arm is behind

the patient and the upper arm is flexed at both the
shoulder and the elbow.

Sims position or semi prone position:

This is a modified left lateral position.

The patient lies on the left side.
Head, shoulders and chest are turned forward so that her chest
rests on the pillow.
The right knee is well flexed and rests on the bed in front.
The left knee is slightly flexed and is positioned behind the
right knee.
This position is useful for performing vaginal examinations and
for rests and relaxation.

Prone Position
the

person lies on the abdomen with the head turned

to the side.
The body is straight
helps to prevent flexion contractures of the hips and
knees.
contraindicated for people with spinal problems.

 This

position is used when there is bedsore or

burns or an injury at the back and
as a change of position for patients which
fractured spine.

Trendelenburg position:
The

patient lies on this back with the foot at the

bed elevated on wooden blocks.
Patients head and trunk are lower than the legs.

Lithotomy Position:
The

patient is kept on his back.

Head and shoulders rest on a small soft pillow.
Knees are flexed well and buttocks are brought over
to the edge of the bed.
If it is used for a long period, the legs are supported
by stirrups, attached to the table.
The position is used for examination or operations
on rectum and genital organs.

 It

is used to assess female genitalia and rectum.

Knee Chest Position:

The

patient knees on the bed and then lowers his

head, shoulders and chest and rests them on the bed.
Head is turned to one side, and kept on a pillow.
The thighs are kept vertical.
Arms are crossed above the head.
This position is useful for performing vaginal and
rectal examinations and for correcting displaced
uterus or other organs.

 It

is used to assess the anus and rectum.