POSITIONS 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.
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PURPOSES:
To promote comfort to the patient 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
TYPE OF POSITIONS
1. SUPINE POSITION:
2. PRONE POSITION
3. LATERAL POSITION
4. LITHOTOMY POSITION
5. DORSAL RECUMBENT POSITION
6. FOWLER'S POSITION
7. SIMS POSITION
8. TRENDELENBURG POSITION
9. KNEE CHEST POSITION
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1-SUPINE POSITION:
The patient lies on his back with his head and shoulders are slightly elevated. The client lies
flat on back with legs extended and knees slightly flexed.
Indication:
For comfort of the patient
Assessment of vital signs
Physical examination of head, neck, anterior thorax and lungs, heart, breasts, abdomen, and
extremities
•checking the peripheral pulse
After surgeries involving the anterior portion of the body.
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toes
heel
head
elbow buttock
shoulder
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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:
"
.
Assess the hip joint.
Assess the posterior thorax.
Position the client with injuries, burn & surgeries of the back.
• Give comfort.
Relieve pressure from pressure sore-prone areas by providing a change of position.
For client after anesthesia to prevent aspiration of saliva, mucus & blood.
To relieve abdomen distension.
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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 by
stirrups.
INDICATIONS:
• For delivery of baby.
• For rectal examination & surgeries.
• For vaginal examination & hysterectomy (gynecological examination).
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ear
knee (inner side)

ankle
T
heel
hip
shoulder elbow (outer side)
knee (outer side)
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3-LATERAL POSITION:
The client lies on the side with weight on hip and shoulder or the patient hes on his side with
both arms forward and his knees and hips flexed. The upper leg is flexed more than the lower
leg. 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-operative patients
Used for examination of perineum
Inserting suppositories.
For taking rectal temperature.
Giving back care
For giving enema and colonic irrigation.
chin
elbow
↑
chest reproductive knee
organ
Prone position
toes
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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 lower
leg. 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-operative patients
Used for examination of perineum
Inserting suppositories.
• For taking rectal temperature.
Giving back care
For giving enema and colonic irrigation.
4-
- LITHOTOMY POSITION:
separated and thighs are flexed. The patient's buttocks are The client lies supine with hips
flexed. The legs are sept at the edge of the table and legs are supported by
stirrups.
INDICATIONS:
. For delivery of baby.
For rectal examination & surgeries.
. For vaginal examination & hysterectomy
(gynecological examination).
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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 knees flexed.
This position should not be used for abdominal assessment because it promotes contraction of
abdomen muscles. One pillow is placed under the head.
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INDICATIONS:
Assessment of the head, neck anterior thorax & lung, heart, breasts, extremities &
for checking the peripheral pulse.
Rectal examinations.
• For operative procedures on the vulval areas.
• For catheterization of the urinary bladder.
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 and forearms.
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INDICATIONS:
This position improves cardiac output, promote ventilation and eases eating, talking &
watching
T.V.
• To relieve breathing difficulty (dyspnea) To relieve tension on the abdominal sutures
To help in the drainage of the abdominal cavity To relax the large muscles of the back &
thigh
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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 is bent at the shoulder and elbow. 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.
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INDICATIONS
Vaginal and rectal examination
Administration of enema and suppository
• Used for relaxation in antenatal exercises
Position for sigmoidoscopy and proctoscopy
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8- TRENDELENBURG 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. The client lies supine with the head
30 to 40 degree lower than the feet or the foot of the bed may be elevated at 45 degree angle
at the operation theatre, the operation table can be adjusted to maintain this position the legs
hang downward over the end of the table
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INDICATION
• Used in emergency situations like shock, hemorrhage and hypotension.
• Postural drainage.
.
Patients with deep vein thrombosis.
Examination of the pelvic organ
Operation of the pelvic organ in order to displace the intestine from the pelvic cavity into the
upper abdomen
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INDICATION
• Used in emergency situations like shock, hemorrhage and hypotension.
Postural drainage.
• Patients with deep vein thrombosis.
• Examination of the pelvic organ
Operation of the pelvic organ in order to displace the intestine from the pelvic cavity into the
upper abdomen
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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. The client lies prone on knees & chest & head is turned to one side, with the
cheek on a pillow. A small pillow may be placed under the chest. The arms are above the
⚫head or they may be flexed at the elbows & rest along
the sides of the head, so as to
⚫ support the client partially.
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INDICATION:
• Used for vaginal and rectal examination
• Used in first aid treatment in cord prolapse or retroverted uterus
• As exercise for postpartum and gynecology patients.
• For sigmoidoscopy.