Fowler's Position

Let's take you through this one a little differently...let's say that you just had a very heavy meal and have come into the living room to watch a film. You sit with your legs crossed because there is no room left on the couch. After sometime someone leaves for a nap and there is some space created. So what do you do? You spread out your legs and release them to feel more comfortable. Doing that gives you an instant feeling of comfort and your legs feel better after being released from their confined, cramped position. Thus the position of legs sprawled is more comfortable and puts you at an instant ease, than a cramped, crossed-legged position. Correct?

The Fowler's position is something like that. It is a specific position that is adjusted on the patient's bed in a hospital and is used to put patients at ease and to make them more comfortable. This eases their stress and brings instant comfort to them. The Fowler's position was named after the renowned surgeon George Ryerson Fowler for inventing this particular position that helped in patient aftercare. What is the fowler's position in nursing and how does it help patients is what we will see in the article that follows.

Definition

The fowler's position is a standard position that is used as a part of patient care. In this the head of the bed (on which the patient is placed) is raised at 45-60 degrees from the original flat position. Along with that, the knees of the patient are slightly elevated as well. This is done so that the patient feels comfortable and is able to recover faster. Other than that, the other reasons for which this position is used is for improving breathing in patients who cannot move at all, relaxing the abdominal muscles, especially after surgery; to improve uterine drainage of women post delivery and for lending comfort while eating.

There are varied other positions that fall under this category. These have to do with the varying degrees of position types. Here are some of the ones that are used in nursing homes.

High Fowler's Position

In this, the patient is put on the bed and the bed is raised to a 90 degree angle. The knees of the patient may or may not be flexed - which depends on the condition that is being treated. Here are some of them:

• This position is usually used when there is feeding of the patient involved. The position allows for proper feeding of the patient without it causing any complications like the food entering the nasal pipe (which is a possibility when the patient is in a supine position).
• The high position is also used when a patient is facing breathing problems and a treatment for the same is being administered.
• So also when there is a need to take particular type of x-rays, this position is used.
• A patient is placed in this position after an abdominal procedure is conducted because it promotes dependent drainage.
• Another reason for using this position is for the purpose of grooming a patient.

Semi Fowler's Position

In this the head of the bed is raised at a 30 degree angle and the patient is made to lie in a supine position. A supine position is one in which the person lies on his back with his legs completely flexed and hands straight. This position is ideally used for patients who are being fed with the help of feeding tubes. This is because, if a patient lies at a straight angle the feeding tube contents can run into his lungs and cause complications.

The Fowler's position is a very important position in nursing and the medical field because of the way in which it helps in caregiving to the patients. It makes the process extremely easy and relaxing for the patient and thereby helps in faster and better recovery.