POSITIONS

movements of limbs and other body parts

toward or away from the center line of the body
are termed abduction, Adduction is the
movement of a body part toward the body's
midline.
DEFINITION

Positioning is defined as planning the person in a

proper body alignment for the purpose of
preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative
aspects of health or placing the patient in good body
alignment as needed therapeutically.
PURPOSES

To promote comfort to thepatient

To relieve pressure on various parts
To stimulate circulation
To provide proper body alignment
To carry out nursing intervention
To perform surgical and medical interventions
To prevent complications caused by immobility
To promote normal physiological functions
PRINCIPLES
Maintain good body mechanics
Wash hands before and after procedure
Ensure patient’s comfort
Obtain assistance as required
Ensure that mattress is firm and level of bed is at
working hide
Follow safety measures to preventaccidents
Follow the systematic and orderly way of doing
Use right technique at righttime
1. SUPINE POSITION

The patient lies on his back with his head and

shoulders are slightly elevated

Indication
Usual position
Examination of the chest andabdomen
PROCEDURE

Place the patient on back with one pillow under the

head, arms and hands at the sides, knees flexed
and separated.
Place the air ring under the hips and cotton or foam
pads under the heels to reduce the pressure.
Place footboard under bottom of feet.
If the patient is a paralyzed, place hand role n
i hand.
Align the patient’s body in goodposition.
AIR BAGS FOOT BOARD
2. PRONE POSITION
Position in which the patient lies on the abdomen
with the head turned to one side with one small
pillow under the ankle.
Indications
Post operatively
Patient with pressure sores, burns, injuries and
operations on the back.
To relieve abdomen distension
CONTD..

Indications..
Renal biopsy.
Examine the back
For patients after 24 hours of amputation of lower
limbs
PROCEDURE
Explain the procedure
Provide privacy
Place the patient flat on abdomen with one pillow
under the head
Turn patients head to one side and align the patient
in good position
Support lower legs with pillows toelevate toes.
3. LATERAL POSITION
The client lies on the side with weight on hip and
shoulder or the patient lies on his side with both
arms forward and his knees and hips flexed.
The upper leg is flexed more than the lowerleg.
The upper knee and hip should be at the same
level.
A pillow is given under the head, back and front to
support the arms and abdomen.
A small pillow is given in between the knees.
 INDICATIONS
Patients who requires periodic position
changes
In immediate post-operativepatients
Used for examination of perineum
Inserting suppositories.
For taking rectal temperature.
Giving back care
For giving enema and colonic irrigation.
PROCEDURE

Explain the procedure

Provide privacy
Lower the head of bed as low as patient cantolerate.
Position the patient to side ofbed
Turn the patient to one side
4. LITHOTOMY POSITION

The client lies supine with hips flexed. The legs are
separated and thighs are flexed.

The patient’s buttocks are kept at the edge of the

table and legs are supported.
INDICATIONS

For delivery of baby

For rectal examination & surgeries
For vaginal examination & hysterectomy
PROCEDURE

Explain the procedure to thepatient

Provide privacy
Position the patient to lie on his back withone pillow
under the head
Keep the legs well separated and the thighs well
flexed on the abdomen and the legs on the thighs
Buttocks are kept on the edge of the table and the
legs are supported.
5. DORSAL RECUMBENT POSITION

Patient lies on back, knees fully flexed, thighs

flexed and externally rotated feet flat on the bed.

In this position clients with painful disorders are

more comfortable with kneesflexed.

This position should not be used for abdominal

assessment because it promotes contraction of
abdomen muscles.
INDICATIONS

It is used for catheterization,

vaginal vulval, vaginal and rectal
examination
It is also used for vaginal operations and insertion
of tampons
PROCEDURE

Place the patient on back in bed with two or more

pillows under the head for patient’s comfort.

Place the air ring under the hips and cotton rings or
foam pads under the heels to reducepressure.
6. FOWLER’S POSITION

It is a sitting position in which the head is elevated

at 45˚ to 60˚, and the client knees are slightly
elevated, avoiding pressure on the popliteal
vessels.

Backrest and two pillows are used for the back and
head. Pillows can be used to maintain natural
alignment of the hands wrist andforearms.
INDICATIONS

To relieve dyspnea
To improve circulation
To relax the muscles of the abdomen, back
and thighs.
To relieve tension on abdominal stature.
PROCEDURE
Explain the procedure
Elevate the head of the bed
Rest the head against mattress or smallpillow.
Use pillow to support arm.
Place a small pillow at lower back.
Place foot board at bottom of patient’s feet.
Place the patient in sitting position with arms at sides
and knees raised with pillow.
7. SIMS POSITION
In this position the client lies on either the right or
left side.
The lower arm behind the body and upper arm si
bent at the shoulder andelbow.
The knees are both bent, with the upper most leg
more acutely bent.
These positions similar to the lateral position except
that the patient’s weight is on the anterior aspect of
the patient’s shoulder girdle and hip.
INDICATIONS

Vaginal and rectal examination

Administration of enema and suppository
Used for relaxation in antenatalexercises
Position for sigmoidoscopy and protoscopy
 PROTOSCOPY
SIGMOIDOSCOPY
 PROCEDURE
Explain the procedure to the patient
Provide privacy
Place the patient on the side
Place small pillow under head and neck
Place pillow under flexed upper arm, supporting arm
level with shoulder.
Place pillow under flexed upper leg, supporting leg level
with hip.
8. TREDLENBERG POSITION

In this the patient lies on the back with the head

low.

The foot of the bed is elevated at 45˚ angle. Entire

frame of bed is tilted with head of bed down.
INDICATION

Used in emergency situations like shock,

hemorrhage and hypotension
Postural drainage
Patients with deep vein
thrombosis
PROCEDURE

Explain the procedure to patient

Place the patient in supine position
Lower the head end of the bed or if it is not
adjustable type, use bed block at foot end and tilt
entire frame of bed down. OR elevate the foot
end at 45˚angle.
The patient is carefully supported to prevent
from slipping.
9. KNEE CHEST POSITION

The patient rests on the knees and the chest.

The body is at 90˚ angle to the hips with back

straight, the arm above the head, and the head
turned to one side.

The abdomen remains unsupported.

USES

Used for vaginal and rectal examination

Used in first aid treatment in cord prolapse or
retroverted uterus
As exercise for postpartum and gynecology
patients.
PROCEDURE

Explain the procedure to the patient

Make the patient rest on the knees and chest
The head is turned to one side with the cheek ona
pillow.
The arm should be extended on the bed and flexed
at the elbows to support the patient partially.
10. ORTHOPNEIC POSITION
High fowler’s position with over bed table to be
placed across the front of the patient.

Patient to rest both hands on over bed table/on

pillow placed in it and leans forward.

Leaning forward facilitates respiration by allowing

maximum chest expansion by reducing pressure
of abdominal organs on diaphragm.
INDICATIONS

Patients with severe dyspnea

Cardiac patients
Position for thoracocentesis
Patient with chest drainage tubes