Positioning a Patient

In this position, the patient is lying on their back with knees straight and arm at the sides

• Prone

• Lithotomy

• Sims position

• Supine

Patient lying on the stomach, with knee straight, forearms may be under the head

• Prone

• Dorsal Recumbant

• Supine

• Lithotomy

Patient lying on the back, with knees bent and feet flat on the examination table, arms are at sides

• Dorsal recumbant

• Prone

• Supine

• Lithotomy

Patient lying on back, with knees bent, thighs apart, and feet resting in stirrups

• Dorsal recumbant

• Supine

• Prone

• Lithotomy

Patient lies on the left side with left arm behind the back, left knee is slightly bent, and right knee is flexed sharply

• Knee-chest position

• Sims' Position

• Trendelenburg Position

• Modified Trendelenburg Position

The patient lies on back, with knees straight and arms at sides, then with the head lower than the trunk and the knees straight.

• Sims' Position

• Modified Trendelenburg Position

• Trendelenburg Position

• Knee-chest Position

The patient is sitting, with legs extended and the trunk at a 90-degree angle; the back is supported by the examining table. Sometimes the knees are elevated.

• Sitting

• Trendelenburg Position

• Knee-chest Position

• Fowler's Position

Bed-bound residents need to change positions frequently because

• it prevents pressure ulcers

• it avoids skin breakdown

• it increases comfort

• it prevents weight gain

The best position for a rectal examination would be

• supine

• Semi-Fowler's

• Sim's

• High Fowler's