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P A T I E N T
P O S I T I O N I N G
Document what you did to protect these patients from further harm.
Alert the surgeon, who'll decide to cancel the case or dress the
wounds, proceed with the surgery and write orders to have them
treated post-op.
5. Focus on problem areas
Sedated patients can't tell you if they're experiencing pain, which
would indicate the potential for skin damage, so ensure their weight is
evenly distributed, especially over bony prominences. When positioning patients, keep the body aligned and avoid stretching extremities.
Perform routine skin assessments immediately after positioning
patients to identify potential trouble spots.
For patients in the supine position, pressure sites include the toes