Question

A nurse places a patient in the orthopneic position. What is the primary reason for the use of this position?

1) Facilitate respirations
2) Support hip extension
3) Prevent pressure ulcers
4) Promote urinary elimination

Answer 1

The orthopneic position is used primarily to facilitate respirations by aiding chest expansion and helping with breathing difficulties in patients.Hence, the correct answer is option 1.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary reason a nurse places a patient in the orthopneic position is to facilitate respirations. This position can help patients with breathing difficulties by enabling better expansion of the chest. It is particularly useful for people who have conditions that cause shortness of breath or for those recovering from surgeries that affect respiration. It differs from the supine or prone positions, which describe a patient lying on their back or face down, respectively. The orthopneic position allows gravity to assist in keeping airways open and can help prevent the complications associated with immobility, such as pneumonia and respiratory failure.