PATIENT POSITIONING IN SURGERY, KNEE-CHEST POSITION

Course overview

Patient positioning in surgery is an essential component of perioperative nursing and involves positioning a patient for optimal surgical access while maintaining patient safety. When a surgical patient is sedated, he or she loses control of physiological protection mechanisms (e.g., reflexes, sensitivity to pain and pressure), which leaves him or her more vulnerable to injuries to skin, muscles, eyes, joints, and nerves. This continuing education module is designed to give the reader/learner an increased understanding of the importance of properly positioning a patient in surgery; the complications which may arise; and the indications, background knowledge and steps required for positioning a patient in the knee-chest position for surgery. Readers may explore any or all of the topics. One contact hour of continuing education credit is available for those who successfully complete the post-test and evaluation form.