Moving &

Turning
Noel S. Ayala
CESD Director
I. MOVING THE PATIENT UP IN BED
1. Make sure an additional healthcare provider is available to help with the
move.
2. Explain to the patient what will happen and how the patient can help
3. Raise the bed to a safe working height and ensure that brakes are
applied. Healthcare providers stand on each side of the bed.

4. Lay the patient supine, and place the pillow at the head of the bed
against the headboard.
5. Stand between the shoulders and hips of the patient, feet shoulder-width
apart. Weight will be shifted from the back foot to the front foot.
6. Fan-fold the draw sheets toward the patient with palms facing up.
7. Ask the patient to tilt his head toward the chest, fold his arms across the
chest and bend his knees to assist with the movement.

8. Tighten your abdominal and gluteal muscles, bend your knees, and keep
your back straight and neutral.

9. On the count of three by the leader person, gently slide (not lift) the patient
up the bed, shifting your weight from the back foot to the front, keeping back
straight with knees slightly bent
10. Replace pillow under head, position patient in bed and cover with sheets.
11. Lower bed, raise side rails as required, and ensure the call bell is within
reach.
12. Perform hand hygiene.
II. POSITIONING THE PATIENT TO THE SIDE OF THE
BED
1. Make sure an additional healthcare provider is available to help with
the move.
2. Explain to the patient what will happen and how the patient can help

3. Raise the bed to a safe working height and ensure that brakes are
applied. Healthcare providers stand on each side of the bed.

4. Stand on the side of the bed the patient is moving toward.

5. One person stands at the shoulder area and the other stands near the
hip area, with feet shoulder width apart.

6. Fan- fold the draw sheet toward the patient with palms facing up.
7. Have the health care provider at the head of the bed grasp the pillow with
one hand and the draw sheet with the other hand.
8. Have patient place arm across the chest.
9. Tighten your abdominal and gluteal muscles, bend your knees, keep
straight and back neutral.
10. Spread your feet horizontally with one foot placed slightly forward.
11. On the count of three by the lead person, with arms tight, shift weight
from the front foot to the back foot. Use your leg muscles to move the patient.
Do not lift, but gently slide the patient.
12. Once the patient is positioned toward the side of the bed, ensure the
pillow is comfortable under the head, and straighten the sheets.

13. Complete all other procedures related to safe patient handling.

14. Perform hand hygiene.
III. MOVING THE PATIENT FROM SUPINE TO SIDE-
LYING
1. Make sure an additional healthcare provider is available to help with the
move.
2. Explain to the patient what will happen and how the patient can help

3. Raise the bed to a safe working height and ensure that brakes are applied.
Healthcare providers stand on each side of the bed.

4. Make sure that there is enough space at the edge of the bed.

5. Spread your feet horizontally with one foot placed slightly forward.

6. Tighten your abdominal and gluteal muscles, Observe good body

mechanics.
7. Help the patient bend the patient opposite knee up

8. With one hand on the pelvis and the other hand on the patient’s shoulder.

9. On the count of three, gently and slowly turn the patient towards you. If
the patient can move, help the patient in turning towards you.

10. Place a pillow in between the legs with the other leg slightly flexed ( if not
contraindicated)
11. Cover the patient with a blanket.

12. Complete all other procedures related to safe patient handling.

13. Perform hand hygiene.

 IV. MOVING THE PATIENT FROM SIDE-LYING TO
1.SUPINE
Make sure an additional healthcare provider is available to help
with the move.
2. Explain to the patient what will happen and how the patient can
help
3. Raise the bed to a safe working height and ensure that brakes are
applied. Healthcare providers stand on each side of the bed.
4. Take out the pillow in between the legs if there is one.

5. Straighten the legs of the patient.

6. Place your arm under the patient’s shoulder blade and the other
hand on the farther hips.
7. Bend your knees and straighten your back. Get ready to turn
the patient.
8. On the count of three, gently and slowly turn back the patient
to a supine position.
9. Move the patient to the center with the help of the other nurse
using the draw sheet.
10. Adjust the patient to the center with the help of the other
nurse using the draw sheet.
11. Complete all other procedures related to safe patient
handling.
12. Perform hand hygiene.
V. MOVING A PATIENT FROM BED TO
STRETCHER
1. Make sure an additional healthcare provider is available to help with the
move.
2. Explain to the patient what will happen and how the patient can help
3. Raise the bed to a safe working height and ensure that brakes are applied.
Healthcare providers stand on each side of the bed.
4. Position the patient closest to the side of the bed where the stretcher will be
placed.
5. If there is no draw sheet under the patient’s back, put first by impelling
forward a rolled draw sheet under the patient’s back.
6. Roll the draw sheet up from the side toward the patient and have the patient
return to a supine position.
7. Position the stretcher beside the bed on the side closest to the patient. Apply
brakes.
8. Have the patient tuck check-in and keeps hands on the chest
9. The leader is at the head of the bed and will grasp the pillow and the sheet.
The other one is positioned on the far side of the bed, between the chest and
hips of the patient, and will grasp the sheet with palms facing up.
10. Bend your knees and hips. Spread your feet horizontally with one foot
placed slightly forward.
11. Tighten your abdominal and gluteal muscles. Observe body mechanics.
12. On the count of three, with the back straight and the knees bent, the nurse
pulling the patient to the stretcher uses a front-to-back weight shift while the
other nurse continuously holding and moving the patient towards the
stretcher.
13. Raise the head part of the bed based on the patient’s preference.
14. Perform hand washing after the transport of the patient.
 VI. ASSIST PATIENT TO A SITTING
1.POSITION
Make sure an additional healthcare provider is available to help with the
move.
2. Explain to the patient what will happen and how the patient can help

3. Raise the bed to a safe working height and ensure that brakes are
applied. Healthcare providers stand on each side of the bed.
4. Stand facing the head of the bed at a 45-degree angle with your feet
apart, with one foot in front of the other.
5. Have the patient turn onto the side facing toward the nurse. Assist the
patient to move close to the edge of the bed.
6. Place one hand behind the patient’s shoulders, supporting the neck and
vertebrae.
7. On the count of three, instruct the patient to use their elbows to
push up on the bed and then grasp the side rails, as you support
the shoulders as the patient sits up. Shift weight from the front to
the back foot.

8. At the same time as you’re shifting the weight, gently grasp the
patient’s outer thighs with your hand and help the patient slide
their feet off the bed to dangle or touch the floor.

9. Bend your knees and keep straight and neutral.

10. Assess patient for orthostatic hypotension or vertigo.
11. Perform hand hygiene.
VI. TRANSFERRING PATIENT FROM BED TO
WHEELCHAIR
1. Make sure an additional healthcare provider is available to help with the
move.
2. Explain to the patient what will happen and how the patient can help
3. Raise the bed to a safe working height and ensure that brakes are applied.
Healthcare providers stand on each side of the bed.
4. Do the steps in assisting the patient to the sitting position.
After assessing a patient for orthostatic hypotension or vertigo
5. Position yourself as close as possible to the patient, with your one foot
positioned on the outside.
6. If a gait belt is available, apply it snugly around the waist. Hold on to the
gait belt and assist the patient to stand.
7. With no gait belt, place the patient’s hands on the nurse’s
shoulders while both hands of the nurse grasp the patient’s
waist.
8. Rock back and forth while counting to three. On the count of
three, use your legs (not your back) to help raise the patient to a
standing position. If indicated, brace your front knee against the
patient's weak extremity as he or she stands.
9. Pivot slowly on your back foot and assist the patient feels the
arm of the wheelchair.
Align the patient’s body and position the footrests.
12. Perform hand hygiene.