Question

How should the nursing assistant respond when you ask her to describe how she will place the patient in Sims' position?

A. "On his abdomen with a pillow positioned under his pelvis"
B. "Lying on his right side with his knees drawn up to his chest"
C. "On his left side turned toward his abdomen with his right leg drawn up"

Answer 1

To place a patient in Sims' position, the correct response is positioning the patient on their left side, abdomen turned slightly forward, right leg drawn up. This differs from prone or supine positions and utilises consistent anatomical terminology.

Step-by-step explanation:

When asked to describe how to place a patient in Sims' position, the nursing assistant should respond by saying, "On his left side turned toward his abdomen with his right leg drawn up." This precise position is critical in various medical and nursing procedures, especially when administering enemas or for certain surgical preparations. It differs from prone orientation, where the patient lies face down, and supine orientation, where the patient lies on their back. In Sims' position, the patient is on their left side, which can aid in relaxation and access to the patient's backside.

Anatomical terms such as prone and supine are used regardless of the patient's actual orientation to maintain consistency when describing positions or identifying locations on the body. This is similar to the anatomical position which serves as a reference point described as standing upright, with feet at shoulder width and parallel, toes forward, and the palms of the hands facing forward.