How To Turn A Person In Bed

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it?

• A person who must stay in bed needs to be turned to a different position every 1 to 2 hours. The skin can break down if a person lies in one position too long. Skin breaks down more quickly over bony areas. Broken down skin leads to bedsores and infections.
  
  
• Not changing the position often enough also may lead to breathing problems and constipation. This may also cause problems with the blood moving through the body.
  
  
• Turn the person onto the back, right or left side, and stomach. Following the steps below may help you turn the person.

Before turning the person:

• Use good body mechanics. Ask your caregiver for the CareNotes™ handout about using good body mechanics for more information about this.
  
  
• Gather anything you may need to use while turning the person in bed. These may include extra pillows, towels, and a drawsheet. A drawsheet is a folded large sheet or a half sheet. The drawsheet needs to go from above the shoulders to below the hips.
  
  
• Tell the person what you are going to do. Also explain how you are going to do it and how he can help you.

Body Mechanics:

• Spread your feet comfortably apart for balance and support. Keep the center of gravity of your body directly over this base of support. Do this by moving your feet instead of twisting and bending your waist.
  
  
• When you bend forward, do it from the hips and bend your knees. When you bend from the hips, keep your back straight to protect it from injury.
  
  
• Pull or push instead of lift whenever you can. Straighten your knees as you lift. If the person you are turning can help turn himself, encourage him to do so.

Using the drawsheet to turn or move a person:

• With the person on his back, put the drawsheet in the middle of the bed and under him.
  
  
• Roll 1 edge of the drawsheet close to his side. Put his arms straight at his sides with the palms against his hips. Go to the other side of the bed, reach across him to grab the rolled edge of the drawsheet. Hold tight the rolled edge and roll him toward you on to his side.
  
  
• To move the person up in the bed takes 2 people. Roll both sides of the drawsheet close to his body. Both people hold tight the rolled edge of the drawsheet closest to the foot of the bed. With the other hand holding the drawsheet, slide your arm under the person's neck and shoulders to support the head. Together, carefully raise the person up with the drawsheet and move him to the head of the bed.

Turning a person from the back to the side:

• If there is a side rail on the bed, lower it.
  
  
• Straighten his leg that is closest to you. Cross the leg that is away from you over the leg that is near you.
  
  
• Cross his arm that is away from you over his chest.
  
  
• Move the hand of the arm that is near you to the head of the bed by bending it at the elbow.
  
  
• Put your hand that is near the head of the bed on the shoulder of the arm that is over the chest.
  
  
• Put your other hand on the hip of the top leg.
  
  
• Brace your legs against the bed.
  
  
• Slowly and carefully roll the person toward you on to his side.
  
  
• Put a pillow against his back to keep him from rolling backwards.
  
  
• Put a pillow between his knees and a small pillow or rolled towel under his ankle.
  
  
• Raise the side rail and be sure it is secure.
  
  
• If the person needs to be turned to the other side, start from the other side of the bed and repeat the above steps.

Turning a person from the side to the back:

• Remove all pillows and towels from the back, legs, and arms. Leave the pillow under his head. Standing behind him, put one hand on the shoulder and one hand on the hip. Gently roll him down onto the bed on his back. If the person is too close to the side of the bed, move him to the middle of the bed.
  
  
• Roll 1 edge of the drawsheet close to his side. Put his arms straight at his sides with the palms against his hips. Go to the other side of the bed, reach across him to grab the rolled edge of the drawsheet. Hold tight the rolled edge and roll him toward you on to his side.

Rolling a person from the stomach to the back:

• Remove any pillows or towels from under the legs, hips, or chest. Lay the person's arms in a straight line along his sides with his palms against his hips. His face should be pointing away from you. Put one hand on his far shoulder and the other arm on his far hip and roll him toward you. He should now be on his side.
  
  
• Move to the side of the bed that is at his back. Make sure he is not too close to the edge of the bed.
  
  
• Put one hand on his top shoulder and the other hand on his top hip. Gently roll him toward you. The person should be on his back.

Turning from the back to the stomach:

• Place a rolled towel and a large pillow within your reach. First turn the person onto his side. Follow the steps above under "Turning A Person From The Back To The Side." He should be on the side of the bed closest to you, but facing away from you.
  
  
• Stay standing behind the person to keep him from rolling off the bed. Put the rolled towel on the bed so it will end up under his shoulders. Put the other on the bed so it will end up under the lower front legs.
  
  
• Before rolling the person, make sure enough space is on the bed in front of him. If so, gently roll the person onto his stomach. If not, keep the person on his side. Make more room in front of the person by moving the person toward you. To do this, put your arms under the upper body and hips. Gently pull his back toward you. You can then roll him onto the stomach. Put your arms under the person's legs and line them up with his upper body.

Keeping the correct stomach position:

• After the person is on his stomach, turn his head to one side. Make sure his nose and mouth are not covered and he can breathe easily. Place the head in line with the spine, not too far back or forward. Put a flat pillow or folded towel under the head.
  
  
• Move the person's hands up by his head with the elbows bent. The elbows should be in line with the shoulders. Put a rolled towel or small pillow under his ankles so the toes and feet are off the bed. Make sure the folded towels are under the person's chest and hips. Also, make sure the towels are still flat and not wrinkled. If there are wrinkles, gently smooth them and see that they are in the right place. Towel wrinkles can cause skin sores.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it can be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care will be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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