Personal Care Skills - Positioning
Position a resident on their side (lateral position) to promote comfort, prevent pressure injuries, and maintain proper body alignment.
Critical steps are identified only where the CareFlow study checklist marks them.
Perform hand hygiene
Critical step
Address resident by name and explain the procedure
Provide privacy
Lock bed wheels
Critical step
Raise bed to comfortable working height
Lower head of bed to flat or as tolerated
Lower side rail on side you are working from
Move resident to center of bed or toward you using proper body mechanics
Cross resident's far arm over chest
Cross resident's far leg over near leg
Place one hand on resident's far shoulder and one hand on far hip
Roll resident toward you in one smooth motion onto their side
Place pillow under head to maintain alignment with spine
Critical step
Position upper arm on pillow for support, keeping shoulder comfortable
Place pillow behind back for support to maintain position
Critical step
Place pillow between legs from groin to feet to support upper leg and relieve pressure
Critical step
Ensure lower arm is positioned comfortably, not under body
Critical step
Check that body is in proper alignment
Raise side rails as appropriate and lower bed
Place call light within reach
Perform hand hygiene
Critical step
Requirements and evaluator wording can vary by state and testing program. Compare this study checklist with your current candidate handbook and instructor guidance.