O C T O B E R 2 0 1 6 O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T 2 9
T
ry this sometime: Lie down on an OR bed and you'll get a sense
of how a patient feels in different positions. If it hurts to hyperex-
tend your arms more than 90 degrees, imagine the jolt to an anes-
thetized patient who can't speak up. The prolonged pressure and
shear force of improper positioning can seriously hurt your
patients, even in short procedures. Here are 7 tips to avoid loss of circulation
and such deep tissue injuries as pressure ulcers and nerve compression that can
result from poor positioning.
Pearls for Proper
Patient Positioning
Use the right type of equipment for the patient
and the procedure to keep your patients safe.
• DUAL GOALS Good patient positioning maintains the patient's safety while allowing access to the surgical site.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
