Bed-bound or immobilized patients should be repositioned every 2 hours.
Make sure clothes, blankets, pads or any other materials underneath the patient is flat and that there are no unnecessary materials causing excess pressure on the patient.
Avoid repositioning within half an hour of feeding.
All tubes and lines should be carefully placed to the side the patient is to be repositioned towards. Take care not to remove any tubes or lines.
After patient is repositioned, appropriate materials such as pillows or rolled up blankets may be used to support the limbs in a comfortable angle to avoid poor circulation or limbs dangling off the bed.
Use air-filled or water-filled mattresses, and gel or foam cushions to help with positioning, relieving pressure and protecting vulnerable areas from the formation of pressure sores .
How to reposition (e.g. Helping patient to lie on the left from lying flat)：
Stand on the patient’s right and stand as close to the patient as possible. Make the bed flat. If the bed may be elevated, raise it to a level that causes minimal back strain for you.
Place both arms around the patient’s shoulders and slightly lift up the patient then pull the patient towards you. Do the same with the patient’s hips so that the patient is now lying on the right side of the bed.
Move to the other side and stand on the patient’s left. Fold both of the patient’s arms across his/her near chest.
Place your left hand on the patient’s shoulder and your other hand on the hip.
Standing with one foot ahead of the other, shift your weight to your front foot as you gently pull the patient’s shoulder toward you. Then shift your weight to your back foot as you gently pull the patient’s hip toward you.
Place a pillow lengthwise under the patient’s back. Gentle pull the patient’s left shoulder towards you so the patient is slightly inclined on his/her back. Place a cushion or pillow between the patient’s knees.
Make sure the patient’s ankles, knees, and elbows are not resting on top of each other. Check that the head and neck are in line with the spine, not stretched forward, back, or to the side.