Changing the Position of the Patient
Changing the position of the patient is important for the
following reasons:
• To promote comfort and relaxation.
• To restore body function.
o Changing positions improves gastrointestinal function.
o It also improves respiratory function.
o Changing positions allows for greater lung expansion.
o It relieves pressure on the diaphragm.
• To prevent deformities.
o When one lies in bed for long periods of time, muscles become
atonic and atrophy.
o Prevention of deformities will allow the patient to ambulate when
his activity level is advanced.
• To relieve pressure and prevent strain (which lead to the formation of
decubiti).
• To stimulate circulation.
• To give treatments (that is), range of motion exercises).
I. In Dorsal Recumbent Position:
1. Arrange the pillows in the order to support the weight of the shoulders
and head.
2. Relieve strain on the muscles of the back by supporting it, fill in the
hollows with small pillows, small pads, or a hot water bottle partially
filled with warm water.
3. Relieve strain on the abdominal muscles and on tendons under the
knees. Support with the knee rest provided on the Gatch bed or with a
pillow.
II. Turning to One Side:
A. To turn the patient toward you:
4. Move the patient to the side of the bed away from you by putting your
forearms under the body then sliding first the head and shoulders, next
the hips then legs across the bed.
5. Place one of your arms across the patient’s back reaching from the far
side to the side nearer you and the other arm across his hips on the
same way.
6. Lift and turn him gently toward you to the middle of the bed.
7. See that the head, shoulders and hips are properly adjusted, that the
neck and shoulders are not cramped and the arms are not pinned under
the body.
8. Flex the knees with the upper leg flexed a little more than the lower leg.
9. Support the legs by placing a pad or small pillow between them.
10. Support the whole length of the back with pillows so that the
patient can relax comfortably.
11. A small pillow placed against the abdomen gives relief and
comfort especially when the patient is suffering from gas pains.
B. To turn patient away from you:
12. From the side nearest you, slip one arm under the patient’s
shoulder reaching the far shoulder and place the other around the hips
in the same way.
13. Lift and draw his far side slightly toward you so that he is
gradually turned away from you.
