Lateral (side-lying) position with pillows supporting head, back, top arm, and between knees is used to:
Explanation
Lateral position with appropriate pillow support relieves sacral/heel pressure (alternative to supine in the q2h turning schedule), maintains spinal alignment, and prevents hip adduction (pillow between knees) and shoulder compression (top arm pillow). Bad positioning without supports increases trochanter pressure and shoulder strain. Distractors (a, c, d) describe harms that proper technique prevents. Always check skin at pressure points each turn.
Law Reference: Fundamentals; positioning lateralThis topic, taught in full in the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) guide. CNA — Complete Study Guide (2026) — PDF + EPUB, $19.99 · 14-day refund →
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