Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Procedures, Examinations and DiagnosticsEasy
A physician orders a patient to sit upright with the head of the exam table elevated 90 degrees to relieve shortness of breath during an assessment. Which position is being used?
- ADorsal recumbent position
- BTrendelenburg position
- CSims position
- DFowler's position
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Fowler's position
Fowler's position involves sitting the patient upright at a 90-degree angle, which is commonly used for patients with respiratory distress because it allows for maximal lung expansion.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Dorsal recumbent has the patient lying flat with knees bent, not upright.
- B. Trendelenburg tilts the head down, which would worsen breathing difficulty.
- C. Sims position is a side-lying position used for rectal exams, not respiratory relief.
Fowler's Position
A seated position with the head of the table elevated 90 degrees (full Fowler's) or 45 degrees (semi-Fowler's), used to ease breathing and for upper body exams.
- Full Fowler's = 90 degrees upright
- Semi-Fowler's = 45 degrees
- Used for respiratory distress and upper GI/chest exams
Memory trick: 'Fowler sits up to breathe easy'—straight up like a chair.