Which of the following actions are effective in reducing friction when repositioning a patient in bed? (Select all that apply.)

Question

a. Lifting rather than pushing
b. Pushing the patient up in bed
c. Asking the patient to bend his or her knees and lift the hips when moving up in bed
d. Asking the patient to lie still as you repo-sition him or her; even when the patient offers to help
e. The use of a draw sheet
f. The use of a transfer board

Answer 1

A, C, E, F
You reduce friction by lifting rather than pushing a patient. Lifting has an upward component and decreases the pressure between the patient and the bed or chair. The use of a draw sheet re-duces friction because you are able to move the patient more easily along the bed's surface. However, there are several commercially available products to assist in the task of positioning and moving patients in bed such as transfer boards and Maxi Slides. Pushing the patient up in bed is incorrect because pushing increases the friction between the patient and the bed. Asking the patient to lie still is incorrect because a passive or immobilized patient produces greater fric-tion to movement.