Back to basics: positioning the patient.

Positioning the surgical patient requires special attention from the entire surgical team because anesthetized or sedated patients are not able to reposition themselves when needed to relieve discomfort or alert team members of the need for repositioning. Perioperative nurses must pay attention to positioning details and the possibility of injury at all times during the patient's procedure. This includes assessing the patient's circulatory, respiratory, integumentary, musculoskeletal, and neurological structures to help ensure that the patient is properly positioned and safe from injury. Working as a member of the surgical team, the perioperative RN is key to speaking up when positioning issues need to be addressed and helping to minimize the risk of injury to the patient. This "Back to Basics" article discusses positioning the patient in the prone position.