Question

A patient short of breath should be put into what position on the examination table?

a.Prone
b.Supine
c.Fowler's
d.Sims'

Answer 1

A patient short of breath should be positioned in Fowler's position, which allows for better chest expansion and easier breathing compared to prone or supine positions.

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient who is short of breath should be put into Fowler's position on the examination table. In Fowler's position, the patient is sitting up with the upper body raised at an angle between 45 to 60 degrees. This position is beneficial for patients experiencing difficulty breathing as it allows for better expansion of the chest, facilitating easier breathing, and can also help reduce the workload on the heart. This is in contrast to the prone position, where the patient lies face down, or the supine position, where the patient lies face up; neither of which is ideal for patients struggling with breathlessness.