POSITIONING POST TEST

-With rationale1. A nurse assists a physician in performing a liver biopsy. After the biopsy, the
nurse plans to place the client in which of the following positions?
a. Supine
b. Prone
c. Left-side lying position with a small pillow or folded towel under the puncture site
d. Right side lying position with a small pillow or folded towel under the
puncture site
2. A nurse is administering a cleansing enema to the client with fecal impaction.
Before administering the enema, the nurse places the client in which of the
following position?
a. On the left side of the body, with the head of the bed elevated 45 degrees
b. On the right side of the body, with the head of the bed elevated 45 degrees
c. Left Sims position
d. Right Sims position
3. A client is being prepared for a thoracentesis. A nurse assists the client to
which of the following positions for the procedure?
a. Lying in bed on the affected side, with the head of the bed elevated for 45
degrees
b. Lying in bed on the unaffected side, with the head of the bed elevated
for 45 degrees
c. Prone with the head turned to the side and supported by pillow
d. Sims position with the head of the bed flat
4. A nurse is preparing to care for a client who has had a supratentorial
craniotomy. The nurse plans to place the client in which position?
a. Prone b. Supine
c. Semi-Fowlers
d. Dorsal recumbent
5. The best position for tonsillectomy is:
a. high fowlers
b. semi fowlers

c. right side lying

d.

prone

6. A client has just returned to a nursing unit after an above-knee-amputation of

the right leg. A nurse places the client in which of the following most
appropriate positions?
a. Supine with the stump flat on the bed
b. Supine with the stump elevated
c. Reverse Trendelenberg
d. Prone
7. A nurse is caring for a client with a severe burn. The client is scheduled for an
autograft to be placed on the lower extremity. The nurse develops a postoperative plan of care for the client and includes which of the following in the
plan?
a. Maintain surgical extremity in a flat position
b. Keeps surgical extremity covered with a blanket
c. Maintain the client in a prone position
d. Elevate and immobilize the grafted extremity
8. A nurse is preparing to care for a client who has returned to the nursing unit
following cardiac catheterization performed through the femoral artery. The
nurse plans to ensure which most appropriate client position/activity following
the procedure?
a. Bed rest with head elevation at 60 degrees
b. Bed rest with head elevation no greater than 30 degrees
c. Bed rest with bathroom privileges only
d. Bed rest in high Fowlers position
9. A nurse is providing instructions to a client and the family regarding home
care after right eye cataract removal. Which statement, if made by the client,
would indicate effective teaching?
a. I will not sleep on my right side.
b. I will not sleep on my left side.
c. I will not sleep with my head elevated.
d. I will not wear my glasses until my physician says its OK.
10. The nurse assists a physician with the insertion of a Harris tube in a client
with a bowel obstruction. Following insertion of the tube, the nurse assists the
client to which of the following positions initially?
a. Prone b. Supine with the head flat
c. Right side
d. Sims

Rationale: This position will facilitate the mercury at the tip of the tube to pass through the
pylorus of the stomach and into the small intestine for the purpose of removing intestinal
contents or decompressing the bowel.
11. Client is diagnosed with deep-vein thrombophlebitis. The nurse develops a
plan of care for the client and includes which client position/activity in the plan?
A. Bed rest with the affected extremity in a dependent position
b. Out of bed activities as desired
c. Bed rest with the affected extremity kept flat
d. Bed rest with elevation of the affected extremity
12. A nurse is preparing to care for a client who has had a supratentorial
craniotomy. The nurse plans to place the client in which position?
a. Prone b. Supine
c. Semi-Fowlers
d. Dorsal recumbent
13. A nurse assists a physician with insertion of a Miller-Abbott tube. After
insertion of the tube, the nurse would assist the client to which of the following
positions?
a. On the right side
b. On the left side
c. Prone
d.
Left
lateral Sims
14. The best position for the delivery room nurse to place a newborn with
myelomeningocele at the lumbosacral area is:
a. Prone b. Supine
c. Side-lying d.Trendelenburg
Rationale: A. Place the infant with myelomeningocele in her stomach in a prone position to
avoid pressure on the sac, which could cause tears, leaks , and infection.
15. A patient who is suspected of experiencing respiratory distress from a leftsided pneumothorax should be positioned:
a. On the left side
b. On the right side
c. In semi-fowlers position
d. Prone
Rationale: A pneumothorax exerts a pushing pressure on the heart and unaffected lung.
Semi-fowlers is optimal positioning for chest expansion.
16. A nurse would position a patient with ruptured appendix in:
a. Semi-fowlers
b. Trendelenburg
c. Left Sims
d. Dorsal recumbent
Rationale: This position promotes the flow of drainage to the pelvic region, where a
localized abscess can be drained or be resolved by the bodys normal defenses.
17. The nurse can increase the ventilatory efficiency of a patient with COPD by
positioning the patient as follows:
a. High Fowlers
b. Prone
c. Sitting up and leaning forward
d. Trendelenburg
Rationale: this position allows for the greatest amount of lung expansion is sitting up and
leaning forward. This position can be facilitated by allowing to rest his arms or her arms on
a bedside table.
18. Following a vehicular accident a client with paradoxical chest movement is
admitted in the ER. Which of the following position is appropriate for the nurse to
place the client initially?
a. Position in semi-fowlers
b. Position on the affected side
c. Position on the unaffected side
d. Supine with head elevated 600
Rationale: Positioning a flail chest on the affected side will reduce the instability of the
chest wall that is causing the paradoxical chest movement.
19. Following a vein stripping for vascular disease the nurse should instruct the
client to assume what position?
a. Elevate legs
b. Dangle legs at the foot of the bed
c. Keep legs flat on bed

d. Flat on bed with pillow at the back of the knee

Rationale: A. Legs should be elevated to prevent venous blood stasis and pooling.
20.Which of the following would a nurse implement in a client with epistaxis?
a. Assisting to a prone position with nose pack
b. Placing in a sitting position and leaning forward
c. Side-lying position with head elevated in a pillow
d. Elevating the head in a supine position
Rationale: Leaning forward will prevent backflow of blood that could lead to possible
aspiration.
21.A client with no history of pulmonary edema has a sudden onset of dyspnea,
chest pain, and tachycardia. A pulmonary embolism is suspected. The nurse
anticipates to place the client in what position?
a. High Fowlers
b. Leaning forward
c. Supine
d. Semi-Fowlers
Rationale: D. Semi-Fowlers position is most appropriate because high-fowlers position
creates extreme flexion of the hips and slows venous return from the legs, which increases
the risk of new thrombi.
22.The nurse should include which of the following postoperative plan in a client
who is scheduled to have removal of her thyroid gland?
a. Maintaining a strict bed rest with head flat on bed
b. Placing in a prone position with head immobilized by pillow
c. Positioning in semi-Fowlers with the head supported by pillow
d. Frequent turning to side-lying position every 2 hours
23.A client undergoes myelography using water- soluble contrast. Following the
procedure the nurse should place the client in what position?
a. Flat on bed without any pillow
b. Elevate head of bed to 300
c. Rise foot of bed to 150
d. Sitting with head supported
24.A client has just returned to the recovery room after an infratentorial surgery.
Which of the following strategies will the nurse incorporate to avoid
development of possible complication?
a. Maintaining the client flat in bed
b. Repositioning the client side to side
c. Placing the client head elevated 450
d. Instituting a modified trendelenburg position
25.An infant has just returned to the nursing unit following a surgical repair of a
cleft lip located on the right side of the lip. The nurse places the infant in
which most appropriate position?
a. On the left side
b. On the right side c. Supine
d.Prone
Rationale: The child should be placed supine or on the side lateral to the repair to prevent
the contact of the suture lines with the bed linens.
26.A nurse prepares a teaching plan for the parents of an infant with
gastroesophageal reflux regarding proper positioning to manage reflux. The
nurse documents that the infant should be maintained in which position
following feedings at night?
a. 300 angle when supine
b. 600 angle when supine
c. Head elevated prone position d. 200 angle when supine
Rationale: the infant should be placed in the flat prone position or the head-elevated prone
position following feedings and at night.
27.A nurse in the labor room is monitoring a client with prolapsed cord. Which of
the following nursing action would help alleviate the womans condition?
a. Instructing to assume a lithotomy position
b. Place in a more comfortable position like Semi-Fowlers
c. Elevate her hips
d. Keep her prone

28.A 5-year-old child is diagnosed with right lower lobe pneumonia. In which
position should the child be placed to maximize oxygenation?
a. High Fowlers
b. Supine
c. Right side lying
d. Left side lying
Rationale: D. The left side lying position is optimal for maximum gas exchange, as it
increases blood flow to the lungs.
29.In planning care for a client with increased intracranial pressure, which steps
would the nurse take?
a. Keep the head of bed flat, and not use a pillow for head support.
b. Elevate the head of the bed for 300-450, and keep the clients head in neutral
position.
c. Elevate the head of bed 900 and support the clients knees with a pillow.
d. Position the client on the right side, and use a pillow to support the clients neck.
Rationale: This will promote venous outflow.
30.A client returns to the unit from the recovery room following laryngoscopy.
Which position would be most effective in helping the client breathe?
a. Low Fowlers position
b. Side lying position
c. Trendelenburg position
d. Sims position
Rationale: The head of bed should be elevated to assist with breathing and to maintain the
airway.
31.The nurse is caring for a patient with a herniated lumbar disc. The patient is
experiencing pain. Which position might the nurse suggest that the patient
assume to reduce the pain?
a. Prone with arms raised above head
b. Side lying with knees flexed
c. Supine with arms elevated on pillows
d. Head of the bed elevated 300
Rationale: Low back pain is a common clinical manifestation of a herniated lumbar disc. A
side-lying position with knee flexion will often relax the lumbar muscles and promote
comfort of the patient.
32.A patient with osteoarthritis has had hip replacement surgery. What level of
activity would the nurse anticipate for the first operative day?
a. Bed rest with turning every 2 hours
b. Out of bed, weight bearing on the non-operative side
c. Dangling at the bedside every 4 hours
d. Non weight bearing, lifted up to the chair
Rationale: A first day postoperative patient would be expected to be out of bed with weight
bearing on the non-operative side.
33.A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis asks the nurse, What can I
do to prevent this from happening again? which activity would decrease the
risk of the development of deep vein thrombosis?
a. Keep your legs crossed when sitting to decrease blood flow
b. Avoid sitting for prolonged periods of time
c. Elevate your feet when sitting for extended periods of time
d. Tight, constructive hosiery should be worn
Rationale: A patient with a history of deep vein thrombosis should avoid sitting for
prolonged periods of time because this can result in venous stasis.
34.A patient with peripheral vascular disease has venous congestion in the lower
extremities. Which intervention would decrease congestion and improve
venous return?
a. Increase the amount of time the patient stands
b. Elevate the extremities above the level of the heart
c. Use constrictive clothing to decrease the swelling
d. Encourage decreased ambulation until the swelling decreases
Rationale: Elevation of the extremities above the level of the heart in a patient with venous
congestion can promote venous return to the heart by gravity and decrease venous
congestion.

35. A nurse is assisting a physician in performing colonoscopy. In which position

will the nurse place the patient?
a. Left side lying with knees drawn up to the chest
b. Right side lying with knees drawn up to the chest
c. Prone with knees on chest
d. Prone at the edge of the table
Rationale: A. Colonoscopy involves a fiber optic visualization in the lining of the large
intestine. Placing the patient in left side lying provides an easy passage of the fiber optic as
it follows the contour of the large intestine. Drawing knees to the chest exposes the anus
for easy visualization.