Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Procedures, Examinations and DiagnosticsMedium
A patient is being prepared for treatment of hypovolemic shock. The physician orders the patient placed with the body flat and the feet elevated higher than the head. Which position should the medical assistant use?
- ATrendelenburg position
- BProne position
- CKnee-chest position
- DSemi-Fowler's position
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Trendelenburg position
Trendelenburg position places the patient supine with the feet elevated above the head, which promotes venous return to the heart and brain and is used in cases of shock or hypotension.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Prone position has the patient lying face down and is used for back or posterior exams.
- C. Knee-chest position is used for rectal or sigmoidoscopy exams, not shock management.
- D. Semi-Fowler's elevates the head, the opposite of what is needed for shock treatment.
Trendelenburg Position
A supine position with the head lower than the feet, used to treat shock and improve venous return to vital organs.
- Feet elevated above head level
- Used for shock, hypotension, and certain surgical procedures
- Contraindicated in patients with respiratory or increased intracranial pressure issues
Memory trick: 'Trendelenburg tips the trunk to save the shocked.'