Need help

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Feb 13, 2016

Trendelenberg is the wrong answer, Fowler's is correct. Now with very severe respiratory distress (think ARDS, treated in the ICU), we position pts prone...but that's probably not something you'll learn in med-surg. If you're curious, it has to do with the anatomy of our lungs; posterior has more surface area than anterior. Position posterior side up, and inspired air rises into the higher portion; more surface area in higher position, more gas exchange.

sailornurse · Feb 13, 2016

Was the choice Reverse Trendelenburg? That might make sense.

mrsboots87 · Feb 14, 2016

I would be extremely concerned with a professor that says trendlenburg is an appropriate position for a PNA patient. I can o my hope that you misread the question or misread the answer choices.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Feb 14, 2016

If your textbook said fowlers, show this to your professor and you may get some points back.

Ask your professor for the rationale for trendelenburg. That doesn't make any sense at all for an answer.

vanilla bean · Feb 14, 2016

OP, without knowing the exact question and choice of answers, it's difficult to weigh in on a correct answer.

What I can tell you is that I would never attempt to place a dyspneic patient in Trendelenburg (most of them can't even tolerate being flat or in Semi-Fowler's as it exacerbates their distress). High-Fowler's or tripod would be positions of choice to relieve distress. That said, Trendelenburg in a pneumonia patient is not contraindicated and is sometimes used as a positioning tool during chest PT depending on the location of the PNA.