CCMA NHA Patient Positions

dorsal recumbent examination

digital examination of the Vagina and rectum. Not for Speculum.

prone examination

for examination of back, and sometimes bottom of feet

supine examination

front of the body, heart, breasts and abdominal organs.

Fowler's Examination

head, neck, chest, difficulty breathing while lying down.

Sims

laying on the left side with left leg slightly flexed and the right leg flexed at 90 degree angle; can involve pillow placed between the legs exams involving the rectum, enemas

Trendelburg

legs elevated above the head to force circulation to vital organs shock (requires a specific table)

Dorsal recumbent

lying flat on back with knees bent - catheterizations - genital examination of younger children, adolescents

Prone

lying flat on the abdomen with arms above head exams involving back of body as well as bottoms of the feet

Supine

lying flat on the back with arms down at the sides of body - exams involving front of body - administration of CPR

Lithotomy

lying flat on the table with the buttocks at the end of the table and feet resting in stirrups female pelvic exams

Jack-knife

lying over exam table that is lifted in the middle -rectal exams or instrumentation (flexible sigmoidoscopy)

lithotomy patient movement

place the patient on their back with knees sharply flexed and arms at the sides or folded over the chest. have the patient slide the but down to the edge or bottom of the table. support the feet with stirrups, with the stirrups arms to match the length of the legs, place a drape diagonally over the patient long enough to give the knees n touch the ankles and wide enough to prevent the sides of the thighs from being exposed.

Semi Fowler's examination

post operative, breathing disorder, head trauma, pain. drape nipple line down.

knee chest examination

proctal, sigmoid rectal gown diagonally, opening at the back

knee-chest

prone and bent at the waist resting on the knees with arms above the head - gynecological or rectal exams - treatments of spinal adjustments

Sims examination

rectal, rectal medication

Semi-Fowler's

seated leaning back against back of the exam table, raised to a 45 degree angle - chest exams - exams needed to be administered in supine, but patient is unable to lay flat - exams for patients experiencing shortness of breath

Trendelberg examination

severe hypertension, rarely used in ambulatory care

Fowler's

sitting position, back of the exam table raised to a 90 degree angle exams involving the eyes, ears, nose, throat, and chest

lithotomy examination

vaginal exams that require the use of a speculum