Body Positions: CCMA

Knee-chest/Genupectoral position

Hands folded under head, chest down to the table, knees separated. gown open in the backHands folded under head, chest down to the table, knees separated. gown open in the back

When a patient is experiencing hypotension what position should they use?

Trendelenburg's

What is dorsal recumbent used for?

Comfort and facilitates healing following certain surgeries and anethestics

Reverse Trendelenburg is used for

For patients with gastrointestinal problems and minimize esophageal reflux.

Which position is used for patients with cardiac, respiratory, or neurological problems? And for patients who have a nasal gastric tube in place.

Fowler's Position

What is lateral position used for?

Helps relieve pressure on the sacrum and heels in people who sit for much of the day or confined to bed rest in Fowler's or dorsal recumbent.

Dorsal recumbent

In dorsal recumbent or back-lying position, the client's head and shoulders are slightly elevated on a small pillow.

Prone Position

In prone position, the patient lies on the abdomen with head turned to one side; the hips are not flexed.

Horizontal recumbent/Supine position

Lying flat on the table, with legs together, hands at sides of body.

Lithotomy position

On back, legs flexed on abdomen, feet in stirups, thighs apart. Gown open in back.

If a patient has difficulty breathing, what position should they be put in to allow maximum expansion of the chest?

Orthopneic/ tripod

Reverse Trendelenburg

Reverse Trendelenburg is the opposite of Trendelenburg's position.Here the HOB is elevated with the foot of bed down.

Fowler's Position

Sitting up at a 45 to 90 degree angle. There is semi fowlers (35 degrees) and low fowlers (15 to 45 degrees) as well as high fowlers (90 degrees).

Sims position

The lower arm is positioned behind the client, and the upper arm is flexed at the shoulder and the elbow. Both legs are flexed in front of the client. The upper leg is more acutely flexed at both the hip and the knee, than is the lower one.

Lateral Position

The patient lies on one side of the body with the top leg in front of the bottom leg and the hip and knee flexed.

What is prone position used for?

This is the only bed position that allows full extension of the hip and knee joint and also promotes drainage from the mouth and useful for clients who are unconscious or those recovering from surgery of the mouth or throat.

What is the Sims position used for?

Used for patients who are paralyzed, receiving enemas, or pregnant women.

Orthopneic/ tripod

a sitting position or on the side of the bed with an overbed table in front to lean on and several pillows on the table to rest on.

Trendelenburg's

involves lowering the head of the bed and raising the foot of the bed of the patient.