Positioning patient on the table

Specialties Operating Room

Published

Hi I would like to ask whose job would it be to position a patient during lumbar or cervical epidural injections, would it be the xray tech because he needs to shoot the picture or the nurse?

thanks a lot! help is much appreciated! :)

and if you have a link to your answer kindly paste it please

thanks in advance :)

Anesthesia has a big role here because they know where they are going to put the injection. Its almost impossible to do this without their help.

Our radiology techs are not involved in positioning for any case. For blocks the nurse, anesthesia, and usually the surgeon position the patient.

thanks a lot susan and roxy :)

what state do you guys work?

Why are you asking?

I bring the patient into the room. Usually the MD, x-ray tech and scrub tech are already in there. Everybody helps position the patient? The MD may put the pillows where he wants them..... x-ray and I may assist the patient to a prone position.. OR....if I'm doing some paperwork stuff.. ...x-ray and the tech help the patient get into a good position.......the MD is right there he or she often helps.....And we all help readjust the pillows and patient once they are prone.

Maybe we have a different setup than you do. It never entered my mind who would do it? Or that we need a reference or policy? We all help?

Do you have an issue or problem, or just curious?

Specializes in Operating Room.

It is a team effort but of course surgeon is responsible for the positioning along with anesthesia and nurse. Radiology tech is only responsible for taking X-rays.

Way off topic, but I am curious? We don't use an anesthesiologist for LESI's, CESI's, and similar procedures? Nurses give moderate sedation. You guys have an anesthesiologist for these procedures?

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.
Way off topic, but I am curious? We don't use an anesthesiologist for LESI's, CESI's, and similar procedures? Nurses give moderate sedation. You guys have an anesthesiologist for these procedures?

At my facility, it is anesthesia docs who specialize in pain management who perform epidural steroid injections. We do them under local, no anesthesia other than maybe a little Versed.

Yeah that is how we do it. One reply mentioned the anesthesiologist and the surgeon?

Specializes in Operating Room.

Yes if it's being done in hospital setting due to legal issues they have gotten into before but I'm sure if you are in a surgery center setting you don't need anesthesiologist.

It is the nurse's role to position the patient depending if the doctor want to do it himself, but if not, you will be responsible for it and then before the procedure starts you should verify to the surgeon whether he agrees with it or would like to make some adjustments. You are the nurse, it is your room, so everything that goes inside the room is your call. The doctor may be the captain, but remember, you are your patient's advocate. The patient comes first before anything else.

thanks a lot susan and roxy :)

what state do you guys work?

Detroit, Michigan

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