POSITIONS FOR EXAMINATION

POSITION AREAS ASSESSED RATIONALE LIMITATIONS

SITTING Head and neck, Sitting Physically

back, posterior upright weakened
thorax and provides full patient may be
lungs, anterior expansion unable to sit.
thorax and of lungs and Nurse should
lungs, breasts, better use supine
axilla, heart, visualization position with
vital signs, and of symmetry head of bed
upper of upper elevated
extremities body parts. instead.
POSITION AREAS ASSESSED RATIONALE LIMITATIONS

SUPINE Head and neck, This is the If patient

anterior thorax most becomes short
and lungs, normally of breath easily,
breasts, axilla, relaxed nurse may need
heart, pulses, position. It to raise head of
abdomen, provides bed.
extremities easy access
to pulse
sites.
FOWLER’S POSITION
POSITION AREAS RATIONALE LIMITATIONS
ASSESSED
DORSAL Head and This position Patients with
RECUMBENT neck, is used for painful
anterior abdominal disorders are
thorax and assessment more
lungs, because it comfortable
breasts, promotes with knees
axilla, heart, relaxation of flexed.
abdomen abdominal
muscles.
POSITION AREAS RATIONALE LIMITATIONS
ASSESSED
LITHOTOMY Female This position This position is
genitalia and provides embarrassing
genital tract maximal and
exposure of uncomfortable;
genitalia and thus, the
facilitates minimizes time
insertion of that patient
vaginal spends in it.
speculum Patient must be
well-draped.
POSITION AREAS RATIONALE LIMITATIONS
ASSESSED
SIMS Rectum and Flexion of hip Joint
vagina and knee deformites may
improves hinder patient’s
exposure of ability to bend
rectal area hip and knee
POSITION AREAS ASSESSED RATIONALE LIMITATIONS

PRONE Musculoskeletal This position is This position is

system used only to poorly tolerated
assess the in parients with
extension of respiratory
the hip joint difficulties
POSITION AREAS RATIONALE LIMITATIONS
ASSESSED
LATERAL Heart This position This position is
RECUMBENT assists in poorly tolerated
detecting in parients with
murmurs respiratory
difficulties
POSITION AREAS RATIONALE LIMITATIONS
ASSESSED
KNEE - CHEST Rectum This position This position is
provides embarrassing
maximal and
exposure of uncomfortable;
rectal area thus, the
minimizes time
that patient
stays in this
position.
Patient must be
well-draped.
Note:
Patients with arthritis or other joint
deformities may be unable to assume
this position

Reference: Potter PA, Perry AG: Basic Nursing essentials for practice,
Ed. 6, St. Louis, 2006, Mosby