COMMON POSITIONS

POSITIONING

• Asthma - orthopneic
• Autonomic Dysreflexia - high Fowler’s
• Post Bronchoscopy - flat on bed w/ head hyperextended
• Cardiac Catheterization - keep site extended
• Cast - elevate affected extremity
• Cataract - affected side up
• Cerebral Aneurysm - high Fowler’s
• Cleft Lip - supine
• Cleft Palate - prone
• Congestive Heart Failure - high Fowler’s
• Craniotomy
• Supratentorial - semi-Fowler’s
• Infratentorial - flat on bed w/ affected side up
• Dumping Syndrome - flat on bed or LEFT side-lying
• Epistaxis - lean forward
• Hemorrhoidectomy - lie on UNAFFECTED side
• Hiatal Hernia - upright
• Hip Surgery - legs abducted & externally rotated
• Increased ICP - high Fowler’s
• Laminectomy - back as straight as possible; log roll to move; sand bag on sides
• Liver Biopsy - RIGHT side lying with towel on side
• Lobectomy - lie on UNAFFECTED side
• Lumbar Puncture
• During - “shrimp” position
• After - flat on bed
• Mastectomy - elevate affected extremity
• Myelogram
• Water-Based Dye - semi-Fowler’s
• Oil-based Dye - flat on bed
• Air Dye - Trendelenburg
• Paracentesis - flat on bed or sitting
• Pelvic Exam - lithotomy
• Post Peritonitis - high Fowler’s
• Pneumonectomy - lie on AFFECTED side
• Postural Drainage - AFFECTED side up
• Pulmonary Edema - upright
• Pyloric Stenosis - RIGHT side-lying after meals
• Radium Implant - flat on bed
• Rectal Exam - knee-chest, Sims’, or dorsal recumbent
• Renal Failure - high biologic value proteins
• Retinal Detachment - affected side down
• Seizure - side-lying
• Shock - modified Trendelenburg
• Thyroidectomy - semi-Fowler’s
• Thrombophlebitis - elevate affected extremity
• Thoracentesis
• During - sitting on the side of the bed and leaning over the table
• After - affected side up