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Changing a patient's position in bed every 2 hours helps keep blood flowing. This helps the skin stay healthy and prevents bedsores.
Turning a person is a good time to check the skin for redness and sores.
Getting a Patient Ready
The following steps should be followed when turning a person from their back to their side or stomach:
- Explain to the person what you are planning to do so they know what to expect. Encourage the person to help you if possible.
- Stand on the opposite side of the bed the person will be turning towards, and lower the bed rail. Move the person towards you, then put the side rail back up.
- Step around to the other side of the bed and lower the side rail. Ask the person to look towards you. This will be the direction in which the person is turning.
- The person's bottom arm should be stretched towards you. Place the person's top arm across the chest.
- Cross the person's upper ankle over the bottom ankle.
If you are turning the person onto their stomach, make sure their bottom hand is above their head first.
Turning a Patient
The following steps should be followed when turning a person:
- If you can, raise the bed to a level that reduces back strain for you. Make the bed flat.
- Get as close to the person as you can. You may need to put a knee on the bed to get close enough to the person.
- Place one of your hands on the person's shoulder and your other hand on their hip.
- Standing with one foot ahead of the other, shift your weight to your front foot (or knee if you put your knee on the bed) as you gently pull the person's shoulder toward you.
- Then shift your weight to your back foot as you gently pull the person's hip toward you.
You may need to repeat steps 4 and 5 until the person is in the right position.
When the Patient is in the Right Position
The following steps should be followed to make sure the person is in the right position:
- Make sure the person's ankles, knees, and elbows are not resting on top of each other.
- Make sure the head and neck are in line with the spine, not stretched forward, back, or to the side.
- Make sure the arms are not under the weight of the body.
- Return the bed to a comfortable position with the side rails up. Check with the person to make sure they are comfortable. Use pillows as needed.
When to Call the Doctor
Contact the person's health care provider if you see redness or sores on the skin.
Alternative Names
Roll patients in bed
References
American Red Cross. Assisting with personal cleanliness and grooming. In: American Red Cross. American Red Cross Nurse Assistant Training Textbook. 3rd ed. American National Red Cross; 2013:chap 13. qualitycnatraining.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/CNA-Textbook.pdf.
De Jong MR. Essentials of patient care for the sonographer. In: Hagen-Ansert S, ed. Textbook of Diagnostic Sonography. 9th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 2.
Qaseem A, Mir TP, Starkey M, Denberg TD; Clinical Guidelines Committee of the American College of Physicians. Risk assessment and prevention of pressure ulcers: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(5):359-369. PMID: 25732278 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25732278/.
Review Date 10/19/2025
Updated by: Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH, ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.