Patient Positioning

Medical Assisting

This module provides knowledge on the medical assistant's role in assisting the physician with patient positioning.

Medical assistants will assist the physician by placing patients in various positions to ensure the examination will be at the comfort of the patient, while also allowing the best access for the physician. In this module, students will learn proper body mechanics in patient positioning and identify the basic principles in gowning, positioning, and draping a patient for an examination.

You’ll learn

how to prepare for a patient examination
how to identify common patient positions
the steps for how to apply proper body mechanics in patient positioning
techniques for patient communication
much more (see Content Details for more specific information)

Introduction

Step 1 - Preparation

Step 1.1 - Equipment preparation

Step 1.2 - Medical assistant preparation

Step 1.3 - Patient preparation

Step 2 - Begin positioning

Step 2.1 - Fowler's position

Step 2.2 - Semi-Fowler's position

Step 2.3 - Supine position

Step 2.4 - Dorsal recumbent position

Step 2.5 - Lithotomy position

Step 2.6 - Sims' (lateral) position

Step 2.7 - Prone position

Step 3 - Complete the documentation

Identify verbal and nonverbal communication when interacting with patients.
Identify the medical assistant's role in preparing the patient for examination.
Demonstrate proper body mechanics in patient positioning.
Demonstrate the basic principles in gowning, positioning, and draping a patient for examination.
Demonstrate therapeutic communication feedback techniques when positioning a patient for an examination.

The SIMTICS modules are all easy to use and web-based. This means they are available at any time as long as the learner has an internet connection. No special hardware or other equipment is required, other than a computer mouse for use in the simulations. Each of the SIMTICS modules covers one specific procedure or topic in detail. Each module contains:

an online simulation (available in Learn and Test modes)
descriptive text, which explains exactly how to perform that particular procedure including key terms and hyperlinks to references
2D images and a 3D model of applied anatomy for that particular topic
a step by step video demonstration by an expert
a quiz
a personal logbook that keeps track of all the modules the learner has studied and how long