chapter 15
Absolutely — Chapter 15 is very testable, especially the positions, complications of immobility, transfer safety, and assistive devices. I kept this to the main/high-yield material, like Chapters 12–14, with short answers. The chapter specifically focuses on positioning, lifting, transferring, and keeping patients/residents safe during movement.
Chapter 15.pdf
Chapter 15 — Positioning, Lifting & Transferring
78 High-Yield Flashcards
🛏 Immobility & Complications
1. Why is frequent repositioning important?
→ Prevents discomfort and complications of immobility.
2. What is the most common complication of immobility?
→ Pressure ulcers.
3. What causes pressure ulcers?
→ Pressure over bony areas slows blood flow.
4. What are pressure ulcers also called?
→ Decubitus ulcers or bed sores.
5. What are contractures?
→ Joints held too long in one position.
6. What do contractures cause?
→ Stiffness, shortened tendons, and loss of motion.
7. How does immobility affect muscle strength?
→ Causes loss of muscle mass and strength.
8. How does immobility affect bones?
→ Causes calcium loss and brittle bones.
9. How does immobility affect the lungs?
→ Decreases lung expansion and oxygen intake.
10. What can collect in the lungs during immobility?
→ Fluids and mucus.
11. What can fluid and mucus buildup cause?
→ An environment favorable to pneumonia-causing bacteria.
12. Why does immobility increase blood clot risk?
→ Slow blood flow from inactive leg muscles.
📏 Body Alignment
13. What is proper body alignment?
→ Positioning with the spine straight and untwisted.
14. What imaginary line checks body alignment?
→ Nose, breastbone, pubic bone, knees, and ankles.
15. What does proper alignment help prevent?
→ Contractures and pressure ulcers.
16. What does proper alignment promote?
→ Good heart and lung function.
17. What can be used to maintain alignment?
→ Pillows, rolled sheets, towels, blankets, or supports.
18. Who should you ask about supportive devices?
→ The nurse or physical therapist.
19. Where should positioning restrictions be found?
→ Care plan or nurse’s instructions.
🛌 Basic Positions
20. What is the supine position?
→ Lying flat on the back.
21. What is another name for supine?
→ Dorsal recumbent.
22. What can prevent pressure ulcers on heels?
→ Floating the heels above the bed.
23. How are heels floated?
→ Place a pillow under the calves.
24. What is Fowler’s position?
→ Head of bed elevated 45–60 degrees.
25. What is semi-Fowler’s position?
→ Head elevated approximately 30–45 degrees.
26. What is high-Fowler’s position?
→ Head elevated approximately 60–90 degrees.
27. When is semi-Fowler’s useful?
→ Resting, breathing difficulty, reflux, or tube feedings.
28. When is high-Fowler’s useful?
→ Eating in bed and grooming.
29. What is the lateral position?
→ Lying on the side.
30. Which side describes a lateral position?
→ The side resting on the bed.
31. What supports are used in lateral positioning?
→ Pillows under head, between legs, and under arm.
32. When is lateral positioning often used?
→ Back pain, pressure relief, or body casts.
33. What is the prone position?
→ Lying on the abdomen.
34. What should you do before placing someone prone?
→ Check with the nurse.
35. What is Sims’ position?
→ Extreme side-lying position, almost prone.
36. When is Sims’ position used?
→ Enemas and relieving pressure on vulnerable areas.
37. What areas can Sims’ position relieve pressure from?
→ Coccyx and greater trochanter.
🔄 Repositioning
38. How often should most people be repositioned?
→ Every 2 hours.
39. How often might some people need repositioning?
→ As often as every hour.
40. What should you check during repositioning?
→ Signs of immobility complications.
41. What reddened skin should be reported?
→ Redness over bony areas that persists.
42. What other skin changes should be reported?
→ Pale, white, shiny, torn, scraped, or burned-looking skin.
43. What lower-leg symptoms should be reported immediately?
→ Hot, red, painful areas.
44. Why should painful lower-leg areas not be rubbed?
→ Rubbing could dislodge a blood clot.
45. What new elimination changes should be reported?
→ New urinary or bowel incontinence.
46. What pain should be reported?
→ New pain during movement.
47. What should you do if tubes or drains disconnect?
→ Tell the nurse immediately.
🩹 Shearing & Friction
48. What is shearing?
→ Pulling someone across a resistant surface.
49. What does shearing damage?
→ Blood vessels and connective tissue beneath skin.
50. What is friction?
→ Rubbing between two surfaces.
51. How can shearing and friction be reduced?
→ Roll or lift instead of pulling or dragging.
52. What device helps prevent shearing and friction?
→ A lift sheet.
53. What is another name for a lift sheet?
→ Draw sheet or friction-reducing sheet.
54. Why should you use gentle movements?
→ Older adults have fragile skin and bones.
55. What should you check after repositioning?
→ Wrinkles in bedding, clothing, and skin condition.
56. Why are wrinkles dangerous?
→ They can cause skin breakdown.
57. Should you move someone by their arm or leg?
→ No, it can injure or dislocate joints.
🔄 Logrolling
58. When is logrolling used?
→ After back surgery or neck/spine injury.
59. How does the body move during logrolling?
→ Head, torso, and legs move as one unit.
60. What must be avoided during logrolling?
→ Twisting or bending the body.
61. How many assistants are needed for logrolling?
→ At least three assistants.
62. What equipment is needed for logrolling?
→ A lift sheet.
♿ Transfers
63. What does transfer mean?
→ Moving from one place to another.
64. What is weight bearing?
→ Ability to stand on one or both legs.
65. What can limit weight bearing?
→ Surgery, injury, pain, weakness, or paralysis.
66. What is a transfer belt?
→ Belt used to assist standing, walking, or transferring.
67. What is a transfer belt called when walking?
→ Gait belt.
68. What is a transfer belt NOT used for?
→ Lifting someone unable to bear weight.
69. What should be used for someone unable to bear weight?
→ Mechanical lift device.
70. When should a transfer belt NOT be used?
→ Certain conditions like abdominal surgery or heart disorders.
71. What should you check before using a transfer belt?
→ Care plan or ask the nurse.
🦽 Transfer Safety
72. What should you do before every transfer?
→ Plan the transfer and gather needed help/equipment.
73. When should extra assistance be used?
→ When lifting more than 35 pounds of weight.
74. What position should the bed be in?
→ Lowest position with wheels locked.
75. How should wheelchair front wheels face?
→ Forward, aligned with back wheels.
76. What should happen to wheelchair footrests?
→ Remove, fold, or swing them aside.
77. What should transfer shoes have?
→ Good support and nonskid soles.
78. What should a person use instead of holding onto you?
→ Chair arm or transfer bar for support.
⭐ SUPER IMPORTANT FOR YOUR EXAM
If you’re doing your 70%-familiarity strategy, I would make these basically automatic:
Know the positions
Supine = back
Fowler’s = 45–60°
Semi-Fowler’s = 30–45°
High-Fowler’s = 60–90°
Lateral = side
Prone = stomach
Sims’ = side, almost prone
Know the immobility complications
Pressure ulcers → contractures → muscle loss → brittle bones → pneumonia → blood clots
Know these safety rules
Reposition at least every 2 hours
Don’t drag → use a lift sheet
Don’t pull by arms/legs
Logrolling = head, torso, legs together
Logrolling = at least 3 assistants + lift sheet
Transfer belt doesn’t lift someone who can’t bear weight
Unable to bear weight → mechanical lift
Bed → lowest + wheels locked
Wheelchair wheels → forward
Footrests → out of the way
Strongest side → lead when possible
Don’t let person hold onto you
Dangle before standing to reduce dizziness/fainting
Report dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, sudden head pain, new pain with weight-bearing, changes in strength/grip, refusal, or broken equipment
Chapter 15.pdf
This chapter has a lot of numbers and position names, so I’d prioritize those over memorizing every individual procedure step.