Repositionin q2 hours...

[Mary C, MSN, RN, APRN, CNM]

At nights when there's not very many nurses on and nearly ever patient is turn q2, how can i actually get it done every 2 hours? I find my patients getting turned about every 3-4 by the time I can get another RN to help me (we don't have aides), I of course help them too... BUt it seems like with nursing care, and so much charting, it's hard to get help to turn a large patient.

What do you do to make this get done? Or does it sometimes not?

[JBizzleRN, ADN, RN]

You can try and try but you will never be able to do all that you want to do to your patient..seriously. I mean it's hard enough to find time to teach them to cough and deep breathe or teach them how to use the IS. I say good show if you turn them every 3-4 hours!

[RNperdiem, RN]

Every 4 hours or so when you can get another nurse to help you, leave the patient on their side.

2 hours later, it is not difficult to remove the pillows and give the drawsheet a little tug to roll the patient to their back by yourself. I am small, and not strong, and it works for me.

If you alternate position for example, left side(with assistance), back(by yourself), right side etc, you will turn the patient every 2 hours while minimizing the need for the second person.

[Mary C, MSN, RN, APRN, CNM]

Every 4 hours or so when you can get another nurse to help you, leave the patient on their side.

2 hours later, it is not difficult to remove the pillows and give the drawsheet a little tug to roll the patient to their back by yourself. I am small, and not strong, and it works for me.

If you alternate position for example, left side(with assistance), back(by yourself), right side etc, you will turn the patient every 2 hours while minimizing the need for the second person.

That's a really great idea. What bout checking their bottom? Or do you just do that every 4?

[nurse_1]

is your turn policy on the hour? if not, what I do is turn 2 pts right away to change the schedule and follow the times on the other ones, so it isn't like I have to turn 5 pts at once. it is more staggered.

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

Can't give you the Med Surg nurse answer, but I work in LTC. I am by no means a super big or strong nurse, but for the most part you can probably repo them yourself. (we get a good bit of bariatric pts that do require more than two people to repo) Every little bit of a position change helps. Now...performing inct care..yeah..you need that extra help.

[nrsang97, BSN, RN]

Every 4 hours or so when you can get another nurse to help you, leave the patient on their side.

2 hours later, it is not difficult to remove the pillows and give the drawsheet a little tug to roll the patient to their back by yourself. I am small, and not strong, and it works for me.

If you alternate position for example, left side(with assistance), back(by yourself), right side etc, you will turn the patient every 2 hours while minimizing the need for the second person.

This is exactly what I end up doing on the nights we don't have aides. This is the only way I will get the person turned every2 hours that way.

[cherrybreeze, ADN, RN]

I'm not sure what type of unit exactly you work on, but does it really take 2 people to reposition all of your patients? I often am able to turn a patient on my own (those that aren't bariatric or can't help, for example); and not everyone needs to be turned as they are capable of moving themselves in bed.

What type of patients do you have that they all require this much assist, if you don't mind my asking?