Why do the Nurses Generally Place Patients in Semi Fowler's position? Summary: We have often seen the patients in the hospital rested in the semi Fowler's position by the nursing staff. But what is a semi-Fowler's position and how is it beneficial for the patients? Read on to find out. Fowler's position George Ryerson Fowler - This position provides the most comfort to the patients. There are different types of Fowler's positions like the standard Fowler's position, lowFowler's position, high-Fowler's position, and semi-Fowler's position. In the standard Fowler's position, the patient is seated upright at an angle of 30 to 90 degrees, with the legs either bent at the knees or laid out straight. It allows better chest expansion and improves breathing by facilitating oxygenation, especially for patients who have respiratory distress syndrome. Fowler's position is called the standard patient's position because of the comfort it offers. This method is found to be very useful for patient feeding through oral and gastric means, when the patient faces difficulty breathing or undergoing any breathing treatment, or when drainage occurs after abdominoplasty. It also becomes very helpful for taking X-rays that should be taken from the side of the bed, during radiology, and for general grooming. What is a semi-Fowler's? This position is the most popular one. In this position, the head and backrest are at a lower angle. The semi-fowler bed is inclined at an angle of 15 to 45 degrees. But, the most common angle used is 30 degrees. This position is the most ideal one when the patient has undergone a shoulder, abdominal, cranial, nasal, or breast reconstruction surgery. It helps in decreasing cardiac and respiratory conditions. It is also very beneficial for those with nasogastric tubes. Other medical reasons when this position can be implemented are lung expansion and feeding the patient. Nurses often keep the patients in a semi-fowler bed because it is the most comfortable for patients who have a nasogastric tube. This position will ensure that the tube remains fixed in its place. Another advantage of this position is for improving the mother's comfort during pregnancy. The patients who are resting on a semi-fowler hospital bed are seen to experience less nausea, as compared to the patients who are lying down straight. It is one of the best positions for patients who are undergoing medical treatments like chemotherapy, which can trigger nausea. Other advantages of Fowler's position ● ● ● ● ●
Improved breathing Increased homeostasis Increased drainage of cerebrospinal fluid and blood Relaxed abdominal muscles Better surgical exposure.