head in dependent position

[h9house]

I came across a practice NCLEX question about Cystic fibrosis and postural drainage. The answers for facilitating the movement of secretions is putting the child's head in a dependent position. It was a select all that apply and the correct answers were:

place child in a side lying position with the right side of the chest elevated on pillows

place the child prone with the thorax and abdomen elevated

place the child in a knee-chest position and place pillows under the chest

so my question is does that mean the head is elevated or dangling since the pillows are placed under the chest, thorax and ABD? My understanding is that dependent means dangling, but it seems odd to let a child's head dangle..

thank you:)

[isharRN, ASN, RN]

I just did that exam today (kaplan sample exam 4) :)

Dangling. U want to promote drainage. It's not really "dangling" per se it's just making the chest/abdomen higher than the head so that the drainage you loosen from percussion will drain by gravity.

[h9house]

Thank you, that makes more sense than the kaplan explanation. Best of luck to you on your exam:) I take mine next Tuesday. Yikes!!

[isharRN, ASN, RN]

Good luck! I take mine Friday. :)

[morte, LPN, LVN]

dependent means lower than, not nec. unsupported.