A patient who sustained a back injury from a motor vehicle accident is currently in the left-side lying position. She is requesting the nurse to position her toward the right side, where the television is located. How would the nurse change the patient's position without causing further injury?

Explanation

• Keeping the patient’s head and back aligned by repositioning with a smooth, coordinated movement describes safe logrolling technique for a patient with a back injury. Multiple nursing personnel are required to maintain proper spine alignment while repositioning this patient

• Incorrect: Placing a pillow under the patient’s neck and back before logrolling may misalign the patient’s body

• Incorrect: The body of a patient with a back injury must be moved in one coordinated movement, not segment-by-segment

• Incorrect: The patient should not be left in that position. Patients on bed rest should be repositioned every 2 hours

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