MOVING A PATIENT

WITH A WHEEL CHAIR

for S-1 Nursing Students 2008
Activities of
Positioning A Patient
 Leaning/turning a patient’s body on
bed in lateral position
 Moving a patient from bed to wheel
chair
 Moving a patient from wheel chair to
bed
 POSITION
• Supine
Someone in the supine position is lying on his or
her back.

• Prone
Someone in the prone position is lying face
down.
 POSITION
• Right Lateral Recumbent/side-lying position
The Right lateral recumbent, or RLR, means that the
patient is lying on their right side.

• Left Lateral Recumbent/side-lying position

The left lateral recumbent, or LLR, means that the
patient is lying on their left side.
 POSITION
• Fowler's Position
A person in the Fowler's position is sitting straight up or
leaning slightly back. Their legs may either be straight or
bent.

• Trendelenberg Position
A person in the Trendelenberg position is lying supine
with their head slightly lower than their feet.
 Comfortable (adj.) : Nyaman
 Uncomfortable (adj.) : Tidak nyaman V
 Pain (n) : Rasa nyeri/sakit O
 Painful (adj.) : Menyakitkan
 Prop/support (v) : Menyokong/mendukung C



Pull (v)
Remove (v)
: Menarik
: Memindahkan/menyingkirkan
A
 Put/place (v) : Menaruh/meletakkan B
Roll (v) : Menggulung


 Move (v) : Menggerakkan

U
 Turn (v) : Memalingkan/memutar L
 Bend (v) : Membengkokkan
 Avoid (v) : Menghindari A
 Prevent (v) : Mencegah R
 Lift (v) : Mengangkat
 Gently (adj.) : Dgn lembut Y
 Leaning/turning a patient’s body
on bed in lateral position

 If the patient cannot move himself, he

will have to be turned in bed at least
once every 2 hours to give him a change
of position and prevent bedsores /
Decubitus. He will also have to be moved
when the bed is being made (optional).
 Turn the patient to your side for safety.
 Changing to Lateral Position
1. Ask permission.
2. Place the other arm that is nearest to you on the edge
of the bed, with his bent elbow. Put the other arm
across his body.
3. Turn his head towards you.
4. Cross his leg over the other.
5. Place your left hand under his shoulder that is far from
you. Place another hand under his buttock.
6. Roll him over gently towards you. Make sure that he’s
lying comfortably on his side.
7. Prop him in position with pillows to prevent from falling
on the floor (if necessary).
8. Use the bedside rail (if necessary).
9. Ask about his comfort.
 Questions
1. How many steps do you take to change the
pt’s body into lateral position?
2. When should the nurse give a patient a
change of position?
3. Where should the nurse put the patient’s arms
before leaning the body?
4. What does the nurse do to support the patient
in position to prevent from falling on the floor?
 Dialogue
Patient : Nurse, can you help me?
Nurse : Of course. What can I do for you?
Patient : I feel uncomfortable. This position is
painful to me.
Nurse : Really? Show me where the pain is.
Patient : I feel pain in my back.
Nurse : OK. Let me help you.

(After turning the patient’s position)

Patient : Is it still painful?
Nurse : Not anymore.
Patient : Is this position comfortable for you?
Nurse : Yes. This is better. Thanks, nurse.
Patient : You’re welcome
 USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
 Used by the patient:
- I’m not comfortable.
- I feel comfortable.
- I can’t lift/move my legs/arms.
- This position is painful to me.
- I feel pain in my back/chest/shoulder

 Used by the nurse:

- What can I do for you? / Let me help you.
- Is this comfortable/uncomfortable for you?
- Show me where the pain is
- Is it still painful?
- Lift your head, please.
- Please pull up your legs and bend your knees.
- Hold tight, please
 CASE STUDY

A. You are a nurse and your patient wants to go

to the toilet but he can’t do it by himself. He
needs a nurse to take him to the restroom.

B. You are a nurse and your patient wants to

change her position but she can’t move
herself. She needs an assistance to do it.
 Positioning a patient
when doing bowel movement
1. Greet your patient
2. Inform what you’re going to do and ask permission
3. Wear hand gloves
4. Close the curtain
5. Cover the lower parts of the body with blanket.
6. Lower down his pants up to the knee
7. Lift his buttock and put a bedpan under the buttock
8. Leave him alone. Give him time to finish his bowel
movement
9. Wash the genital area and take away the bedpan
10. Put on his pants
11. Cover him with the blanket and open the curtain.
12. Ask about comfort.
 Positioning a paralyzed patient
from wheel chair to bed
1. Greet your patient
2. Inform what you’re going to do and ask permission
3. Wear gloves, if necessary
4. Lock the wheel chair and lift up the foot steps/foot rests
5. Help the patient to step down his feet on the floor
6. Place your arms around his body
7. Ask him to hold around your waist
8. Lift him up slowly. Place the pt’s legs between your legs
9. Move him to the bedside
10. Position him in sitting position
11. Lie him down by supporting his back with left hand and
holding his legs with right hand
12. Cover him with a blanket
13. Ask about comfort
 Positioning a patient
from bed to wheelchair
 Positioning a paralyzed patient
from bed to wheel chair
1. Greet your patient . Inform what you’re going to do
and ask permission
2. Wear gloves, if necessary
3. Prepare the wheel chair: Lock the wheel chair and lift
up the footsteps.
4. Remove the blanket
5. Put your arms around his body to support his back.
Help him in Fowler’s position
6. Move him to the bedside in sitting position
7. Put his feet on the floor
8. Support his back with your arms around his body and
the pt’s knee should between your legs
9. Help him move slowly to the wheel chair
10. Prepare the footsteps and put his feet on them
11. Unlock the wheel chair
12. Ask about his comfort
 REMEMBER
 When patients are weak, brace your knees
against theirs to keep their legs from buckling.
Also, transfer toward patient's stronger side if
possible.
 Patient safety is often the main concern when
moving patients from bed. But remember not to
lift at the expense of your own back. This
transfer often requires patients' help, so clear
communication is essential. If they can't help
much, you'll need two people.
 POSITIONING A PATIENT FROM BED TO WHEELCHAIR
► Sit the Patient Up
 Position and lock the wheelchair close to the bed.
Remove armrest nearest bed and swing away both
leg rests.
 Help the patient turn over.
 Put an arm under the patient's neck with your hand
supporting the shoulder blade; put your other hand
under the knees.
 Swing legs over the edge of the bed, helping the
patient to sit up.
► Stand the Patient Up
 Have the patient scoot to the edge of the bed.
 Put your arms around the patient's chest and clasp
your hands behind his or her back. Or, you may also
use a transfer belt to provide a firm handhold.
 Supporting the leg farthest from the wheelchair
between your legs, lean back, shift your weight, and
lift.
 POSITIONING A PATIENT FROM BED TO WHEELCHAIR

► Pivot Toward Chair

 Have the patient pivot toward the chair, as
you continue to grasp your hands around the
patient.
 Another nurse or helper can support the
wheelchair or patient from behind.
► Sit the Patient Down
 As the patient bends toward you, bend your
knees and lower the patient into the back of
the wheelchair.
 A helper may position the patient's buttocks
and support the chair.
Time to practice