Assisting the Resident to Sit on the Side of the Bed

Written by Hollie Finders, RN
Hollie Finders is a registered nurse with years of experience working in the health care field. She has degrees in both biochemistry and nursing. After working with patients of all ages, Hollie now specializes in pediatric intensive care nursing. Hollie’s LinkedIn

Procedure

Equipment needed: footstool (if required).

Perform hand hygiene.
Explain the procedure to the resident and ask for his or her assistance in following directions.
Lock the bed wheels and ensure the bed is in its lowest position.
If the head of the bed is adjustable, raise it so the resident is in a sitting position.
Slide one arm under the resident’s shoulders and the other arm under the resident’s thighs.
While providing support, pivot the resident so his or her legs dangle off the side of the bed.
Support the resident until he or she has adjusted to the position change.
Provide a footstool if the resident cannot reach the floor with his or her feet.
Allow the resident to dangle for as long as ordered or proceed with the next procedure (taking vital signs, transferring the resident, etc.).
If the resident reports dizziness lasting longer than one minute while dangling, assist the resident in lying back down.
To lay the resident back down, place your arms under the resident’s shoulders and thighs and slowly turn the resident back into his or her original position.
Assist the resident into a comfortable position and adjust the head of the bed, if necessary. Place the call light within the resident’s reach.
Perform hand hygiene.
Document the procedure in the resident’s chart and report any changes in the resident’s condition to the nurse.

Important Information

Having the resident sit on the side of the bed is otherwise referred to as dangling. When a resident quickly changes position, especially from lying to sitting or standing, there can be a rapid drop in the resident’s blood pressure. This drop in blood pressure may cause dizziness or lightheadedness [1]. Dangling allows the resident to reach equilibrium in the upright position. The nurse’s assistant should encourage the resident to remain seated until he or she has regained balance and can safely assume a standing position.

References

1. Postural Hypotension: What it is & How to Manage it

More Resources

Putting on Personal Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment is worn to protect the mouth, nose, eyes, clothing, and skin from unwanted pathogens. In the health care setting, a patient’s condition often prompts the use of personal protective equipment; however, a health care worker is able to wear personal protective equipment whenever he or she deems it is necessary (e.g., during procedures with the potential for excessive contact with bodily fluids).

Fowler’s Position

Fowler’s position is used when a patient is eating, is having difficulty breathing, or is ordered by a doctor. This position is easily recognized because the patient will be sitting “straight up.” Semi-Fowler’s is sitting “half-way up,” and is used when patients cannot be laid flat, but wish to be in a more relaxed position than Fowler’s.

Supine Position

Supine position is a natural and comfortable position for most people. For this reason, it is a highly utilized position for nursing procedures. Unfortunately, this position puts pressure on many bony prominences that can lead to discomfort and/or pressure ulcers if the pressure is not relieved every so often (typically every two hours or less).

Transferring the Resident from a Bed with a Mechanical Lift

A mechanical lift is used to transfer residents who cannot support their own weight. When used properly, mechanical lifts prevent injuries for both residents and health care workers. It is important that a nurse’s assistant be trained to use the mechanical lift before attempting to operate it. Most facilities require at least two health care workers to assist when using a mechanical lift.

Rectal Temperature with Electronic Thermometer

A rectal temperature provides the most accurate core body temperature reading compared to other non-invasive methods. This makes a rectal temperature desirable; however, this procedure comes with more patient discomfort and more safety risks (bowel perforation, mucosal damage, and/or vagus nerve stimulation) than the other temperature measurement methods.

Moving the Resident to the Side of the Bed

Residents are usually kept in the center of the bed for safety reasons. However, moving a resident to the side of the bed is an important step to take before turning a resident onto his or her side. Performing this action allows the resident to end up side lying in the center of the bed and not smashed up against the side rail.