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Nursing vocabulary · Basic Care and Mobility

Reposition

Meaning in nursing, with examples

/ˌriːpəˈzɪʃən/verbCommon term

In nursing, reposition means: To change the position of a patient in bed or in a chair, to relieve pressure on the skin, make them comfortable or help their breathing.

In Turkish: pozisyon vermek, pozisyonunu değiştirmek, çevirmek

How it is used

Recorded on a repositioning chart, called a 'turning chart' in many UK hospitals. Everyday phrases: 'turn the patient', 'roll him onto his side', 'sit her up', 'use a slide sheet'. How often it is done, for example every two or four hours, is set in the care plan.

Example sentences

  1. Can you help me reposition Mr Aydın? He's slipped down the bed again.

  2. She needs repositioning every two hours because of the redness on her sacrum.

Common collocations

  • reposition a patient
  • repositioning chart
  • two-hourly repositioning
  • help someone reposition
  • pressure ulcerDamage to the skin and the tissue under it caused by long pressure, usually over bony areas such as the heels, hips or the base of the spine.
  • hoistA piece of lifting equipment with a fabric sling, used to move a patient who cannot stand, for example from the bed to a chair.
  • mobilizeTo get a patient moving by sitting up, standing or walking, especially after an operation or a period in bed.
  • care planA written plan that sets out a patient's nursing needs, the goals of care and the actions the team will take to meet them.

More terms: Basic Care and Mobility

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.