Question

A patient with pneumonia in the right lower lobe is prescribed percussion and postural drainage. When

performing percussion and postural drainage, the nurse should position him:
A. in semi-Fowler's position with his knees bent.
B. in a right side-lying position with the foot of his bed elevated.
C. in a prone or supine position with the foot of his bed elevated higher than his head.
D. bent at the waist leaning slightly forward.

Answer 1

For pneumonia in the right lower lobe, position the patient in a prone or supine position with the bed's foot elevated above the head to use gravity for effective secretion drainage.

Step-by-step explanation:

To effectively perform percussion and postural drainage on a patient with pneumonia in the right lower lobe of the lung, the nurse should position the patient to enhance the gravitational drainage of the mucus from the affected area. Given the options, the most appropriate position is to place the patient in a prone or supine position with the foot of the bed elevated higher than the head. This utilises gravity to assist in the drainage of the secretions from the lower lobes of the right lung, where the infection is located.

Percussion and postural drainage are techniques used to clear secretions from the lungs. During these procedures, the nurse typically performs chest physiotherapy involving the tapping of the chest to loosen secretions, followed by positioning the patient to allow gravity to help drain these secretions. When a patient has pneumonia in the right lower lobe, they should not lie on their right side, as effective drainage would be impaired. In semi-Fowler's or upright positions, gravity does not aid in draining the lower lobes as effectively as when the patient is prone with the bed tilted.