POSITIONING & DRAPING

POSITIONING - to place or arrange

the client to assume a certain position
for physical examination or treatment
DRAPING - a piece of cloth placed
over a patient’s body during an
examination or operation
 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS:

1.The method of draping vary with the

position of the patient, examination to be
done and temperature of the examination
room.
2.Draping should be arranged so as to
avoid all unnecessary exposure, but at the
same time not to interfere with a thorough
examination.
 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS:

3. Draping should be loose enough to allow a

quick change of position but anchored
securely so as not to be displaced by patient’s
movement.
4. Methods of draping should be designed with
consideration for those who are embarrassed
by exposure of the body.
5. Draping should be warm whenever the
circumstances require it.
 ERECT OR STANDING POSITION

the head and body is held in an upright

position

PURPOSE:
1.For vaginal examination- to determine
the presence of prolapse uterus
2.For orthopedic condition
PROCEDURE:

1.Assist the client to stand either with

slippers or in bare feet on a piece of
paper.
2.Untie the gown and leave the
uppermost taped.
3.Fold back the gown over both
shoulders towards the front when
the physician is ready for
examination.
 HORIZONTAL/SUPINE OR
RECUMBENT POSITION

Position in which the patient lies flat on the back,

with the head and shoulders also flat on the bed

PURPOSE:
1.General physical examination
2.Various operative procedures
3.For comfort by providing a change in position
 PROCEDURE:

1.Replace top sheet with a draping sheet.

2.Cover the patient from the shoulders to the foot
part with the sheet hanging loose at the sides.
3.Assist the patient to lie flat on his/her back with
the legs together, extended or slightly flexed.
4.Place one pillow under the head and another
smaller one maybe placed under the knees for
support.
5.Place the arms along the sides of the body or
comfortably flexed on the sides.
DORSAL RECUMBENT
POSITION

the patient lies flat on the back with head and

shoulders slightly elevated on a small pillow

PURPOSE:
1. Vaginal examination
2. Digital rectal examination (DRE)
3. Pelvic examination
4. For catheterization
 PROCEDURE:

1.Replace the top sheet with the draping sheet.

2.Assist the patient to lie flat on his/her back.
3.Separate the legs, flex the knees so that the soles
of the feet are flat on the bed.
4.Place the arms either above the head or flex with
the hands on the chest.
5.Bring buttocks of the patient to the edge of the
bed.
6.Place one pillow under the head.
7.Place the draping sheet diagonally on the
patient so that the opposite corners cover
the legs. (Optional: Drape with two sheets
placed over the body)
8.Fold back the top corner over the chest.
9.Wrap the corner in the right side around
the right foot.
10.Do the same with the left side.
11.Fold the lower corner of the sheet pack
on the abdomen to expose the part to be
examined when the doctor is ready to do so.
 DORSAL LITHOTOMY
POSITION

back lying position with lower legs raised and supported by

stirrups

PURPOSE:
1. For cystoscopic examination
2. For vaginal delivery
3. For operations and examinations on the
perineum, vagina, cervix, bladder and rectum
 PROCEDURE:
1. Assist the patient to lie on his/her back.
2. Insert leggings or stockinettes PRN.
3. Adjust the stirrups according to the size of the patient.
4. Separate the legs and flex the thighs deeply toward the
abdomen.
5. Elevates the legs and adjust it with the stirrups.
6. Draw down the buttocks to the folding edge of the table.
7. Raise the arms above the head or flex them with the
hands on the chest.
8. Place the draping sheet diagonally on the
patient so that the opposite corners cover the
legs.
9. Fold back the top corner over the chest.
10. Wrap the corner in the right side around
the right foot.
11. Do the same with the left side.
12. Fold the lower corner of the sheet pack
on the abdomen to expose the part to be
examined when the doctor is ready to do so.
 SIM’S/LATERAL POSITION

 the patient lies on one side of the body

PURPOSE:
1.For resting sleeping
2.For unconscious clients
3.Used for paralyzed patient
 PROCEDURE:

1.Assist the patient to lie on either side, preferably

the left with the body inclined forward.
2.Extend the left arm behind the back and flex the
elbow of the right arm forward.
3.Flex the right thigh towards the abdomen with
the knees drawn up higher than the left knee,
which is only slightly flexed.
4.Lay out the draping sheet as in horizontal
recumbent position.
5.Fold back or gather a side of the sheet to expose
the area to be examined.
 PRONE POSITION

 the patient lies on the abdomen with the

head turned to one side

PURPOSE:
1.Promotes drainage from the mouth
2.Useful for unconscious clients or those
recovering from surgery of the mouth or
throat
 PROCEDURE:

1. Help the patient assume the horizontal recumbent position.

2. Assist him or her to turn over onto the abdomen.
3. Turns the head to one side.
4. Place the arms at the sides or extends upwards.
5. Allow the feet to hang over the edge of the mattress or support on a
pillow high enough to keep the toes from touching the bed.

6. Place a small pillow beneath the wrist and a large one under the legs if
patient has to stay in the position for a long time.

7. Drape the patient horizontally. (Draping is similar to that of the dorsal

position.)
 FOWLER’S/SEMI-SITTING
POSITION

the patient is semi-sitting with the head and

trunk elevated 45 to 90 degrees

PURPOSE:
1.Promoting cardiac and respiratory function
2.To relieve dyspnea
3.To facilitate drainage after surgery
 PROCEDURE:

1. Place the patient in horizontal recumbent position.

2. Elevate the head of the bed appropriately.
- Low Fowlers – 15 degrees
- Semi Fowlers – 45 degrees
- High Fowlers – 90 degrees
3.Flex the knees slightly and support them with knee
rolls.
4.Drape patient appropriately as in horizontal
recumbent position.
 TRENDELENBURG POSITION

the head and body are lowered

PURPOSE:
1.Used for surgery on the lower abdomen
and pelvis
2.For treatment of shock or decreased
blood pressure
PROCEDURE:

1.Assist the patient to a horizontal

recumbent position.
2.Elevate the foot of the bed so that the
lower trunk is higher than the bed and
shoulder. (At about 45 degrees angle)
3.Support the shoulder and knees.
4.Draping depends upon the kind of
operation to be performed and or
similar to that of the horizontal
recumbent position.
 JACKNIFE POSITION

back lying position with both legs

raised perpendicularly

PURPOSE:
1.For rectal surgery
2.For cystoscopic examination
 PROCEDURE:

1.Let the patient lie on his or her back

with shoulders slightly elevated.
2.Bring thighs up to form a right angle
with the anterior part of the trunk and
knees flexed so that the lower legs rest
against the thighs.
3.Draping depends on the operation to be
performed since this position is more for
surgery rather that for examination.
 KNEE-CHEST/GENUPECTORAL
POSITION

- patient lies on the abdomen with knees

slightly separated on a kneeling position
and chest resting on the bed.

PURPOSE:
1.For rectal examination and surgery
 PROCEDURE:

1.Place the patient on a prone position.

2.Assist him/her to kneel with the knees slightly
separated.
3.Bend forward so that the chest is resting on the
bed and the thighs are perpendicular to the legs.
4.Turns the head to one side.
5.Place the arms either above head or flex at the
elbows and rest along the side of the head.
6.Drape the patient properly so that only the area to
be examined is exposed.
 ORTHOPNEIC POSITION

the patient sits either in bed or on the

side of the bed with an overbed table
across the lap

PURPOSE:
1.Facilitates respiration
2.For clients who have problems exhaling
 PROCEDURE:

1.Have patient sit up on bed.

2.Place overbed table across the lap.
3.Pad table with pillows and elevate to
comfortable height.
4.Let patient lean forward with head and
arms resting on table.
5.Cover with top sheet from waist
downward.