Module 5: Body Mechanics

Statement of Purpose: The purpose of the unit is to provide students with an understanding of efficient and proper use of the body in performing tasks related to the role of the CNA. Students will understand the principles of positioning and transporting patients/residents and will implement these principles when providing patient/resident care.

Module 5 Vocabulary Study Tool: https://claude.ai/public/artifacts/5eee6fdf-8736-40fb-9eaf-08970e490519

Performance Standards (Objectives): Define key terminology:

1. Activities of Daily Living (ADL)

2. Alignment

3. Ambulate

4. Base of support

5. Body mechanics

6. Dangle

7. Dorsal recumbent

8. Fowler’s position

9. Gait belt

10. Grasp

11. Hoyer lift

12. Lateral position

13. Lift/draw/turn

14. Lift team

15. Lithotomy

16. Logroll

17. Mechanical lift

18. Pivot

19. Prone position

20. Sim’s position

21. Supine position

22. Trapeze

23. Trendelenburg

24. Total Quality Improvement (TQI)

25. Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMD)

CNA Module 5: Body Mechanics – Vocabulary Sentences for English Learners

Practice Sentences for California CNA Exam Preparation

1. Activities of Daily Living (ADL): The CNA helps residents with their activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, eating, and using the bathroom.
2. Alignment: Keep the resident’s body in proper alignment by making sure their spine is straight and their head is supported.
3. Ambulate: The physical therapist will help the patient ambulate down the hallway using a walker.
4. Base of support: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart to create a good base of support before lifting a heavy object.
5. Body mechanics: Use proper body mechanics by bending your knees and keeping your back straight when lifting patients.
6. Dangle: Before getting out of bed, let the resident dangle their legs over the side for a few minutes to prevent dizziness.
7. Dorsal recumbent: Place the patient in dorsal recumbent position lying on their back with knees slightly bent and feet flat on the bed.
8. Fowler’s position: Raise the head of the bed to 45 degrees to put the patient in Fowler’s position for easier breathing.
9. Gait belt: Always use a gait belt around the patient’s waist when helping them walk to prevent falls.
10. Grasp: The stroke patient has difficulty with grasp and cannot hold a cup without assistance.
11. Hoyer lift: Use the Hoyer lift to safely transfer heavy patients who cannot bear weight on their legs.
12. Lateral position: Turn the unconscious patient to the lateral position on their side to prevent choking.
13. Lift/draw/turn: The CNA must lift/draw/turn the patient carefully to prevent injury to both the patient and caregiver.
14. Lift team: Call the lift team when you need help moving a patient who weighs more than the facility’s lifting limit.
15. Lithotomy: The doctor positioned the patient in lithotomy position with legs in stirrups for the gynecological exam.
16. Logroll: Logroll the spinal injury patient by moving their body as one unit to maintain proper alignment.
17. Mechanical lift: The mechanical lift helps CNAs move patients safely without straining their backs.
18. Pivot: Pivot the patient by turning them slowly on their feet rather than twisting their back.
19. Prone position: Place the patient in prone position lying face down on their stomach for the back examination.
20. Sim’s position: Put the patient in Sim’s position lying on their left side for the enema procedure.
21. Supine position: The patient rests in supine position lying flat on their back during the bed bath.
22. Trapeze: The patient uses the trapeze bar above the bed to help move and reposition themselves.
23. Trendelenburg: In Trendelenburg position, the patient’s feet are elevated higher than their head to improve blood flow.
24. Total Quality Improvement (TQI): The nursing home follows Total Quality Improvement practices to provide the best possible patient care.
25. Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMD): Proper body mechanics help CNAs avoid work-related musculoskeletal disorders like back injuries.

---

Study Tip: Practice using these vocabulary words in sentences when you talk about your CNA training. This will help you remember them for both the exam and your future work as a certified nursing assistant.

Patient, resident, and client are synonymous terms referring to the person receiving care

Module 5: 4 CNA English Learning Dialogues – Body Mechanics

Dialogue 1: Morning Patient Care

Setting: A patient’s room during morning care routine

CNA Sarah: Good morning, Mrs. Johnson. It’s time for your morning care. How are you feeling today?

Mrs. Johnson: I’m okay, dear, but my back is still sore from lying down all night.

CNA Sarah: I understand. Let’s help you sit up safely. First, I’m going to raise the head of your bed to Fowler’s position – that’s sitting up at about 45 degrees. This will make it easier for you.

Mrs. Johnson: That feels better already.

CNA Sarah: Great! Now I need you to dangle your legs over the side of the bed for a few minutes. This means sitting on the edge with your feet hanging down. It helps prevent dizziness when we help you stand up.

Mrs. Johnson: Should I try to stand now?

CNA Sarah: Not yet. Let’s make sure you have proper alignment first – that means your body is in a straight, balanced position. I’m also going to put this gait belt around your waist. It’s a safety device that helps me support you when you ambulate – that’s our word for walking.

Mrs. Johnson: You’re very careful about safety, aren’t you?

CNA Sarah: Absolutely! Good body mechanics – using our bodies efficiently and safely – protects both of us from injury. It’s an important part of Activities of Daily Living or ADL, which includes all the basic tasks like walking, bathing, and dressing.

---

Dialogue 2: Patient Transfer Training

Setting: Training room with CNA instructor and student

Instructor Mike: Today we’re learning about safe patient transfers. What’s the most important thing to remember, Jenny?

Student Jenny: Always use proper body mechanics and never lift alone if the patient is heavy?

Instructor Mike: Exactly! And what’s our base of support?

Student Jenny: That’s… the area between our feet when we stand, right? We should keep our feet shoulder-width apart for stability.

Instructor Mike: Perfect! Now, when we need to move a patient from supine position – lying flat on their back – to lateral position – lying on their side – what technique do we use?

Student Jenny: We use the logroll technique to keep their spine aligned, especially for patients with back injuries.

Instructor Mike: Good! And if we need to use a mechanical lift or Hoyer lift for heavier patients?

Student Jenny: We always work with a lift team – at least two people – and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

Instructor Mike: Right! Remember, Work-related musculoskeletal disorders or WRMD are common injuries in healthcare. Our Total Quality Improvement or TQI program helps us identify and prevent these injuries.

Student Jenny: So we should always ask for help rather than risk injury?

Instructor Mike: Absolutely! When in doubt, get help. Your back will thank you later.

---

Dialogue 3: Repositioning a Bedridden Patient

Setting: Patient room with immobile patient

CNA David: Hi Mr. Martinez. I’m here to help change your position. You’ve been in supine position for two hours, so it’s time to move you.

Family Member: Is it safe to move him? He can’t help at all.

CNA David: Yes, it’s very safe when done correctly. I’m going to move him to Sim’s position – that’s lying on his left side with his right knee bent. This position is good for circulation and prevents bed sores.

Family Member: How will you move him by yourself?

CNA David: I’ll use the lift/draw/turn technique. First, I’ll grasp the draw sheet under him – that’s this special sheet that helps us move patients smoothly. I’ll pivot my whole body rather than twisting my back.

Family Member: You make it look easy.

CNA David: Practice and proper technique help a lot. See how I keep my feet in a wide base of support and bend my knees instead of my back? This is what we call good body mechanics.

Family Member: What if he needs to sit up later?

CNA David: We can move him to dorsal recumbent – lying on his back with knees bent – or use the bed controls to put him in Fowler’s position for eating or talking with visitors. We have a trapeze bar above the bed that some patients can use to help lift themselves, but Mr. Martinez isn’t ready for that yet.

---

Dialogue 4: Preparing for a Medical Procedure

Setting: Pre-operative preparation area

Nurse Rebecca: Maria, can you help me position Mrs. Wong for her procedure?

CNA Maria: Of course! What position does the doctor need?

Nurse Rebecca: She needs to be in lithotomy position for this gynecological exam. Do you remember what that involves?

CNA Maria: Yes, that’s lying on her back with her hips and knees bent and her feet in stirrups, right?

Nurse Rebecca: Exactly. But first, let’s help her ambulate from the waiting area. She’s been sitting for a while, so we should let her dangle her feet and stand slowly.

CNA Maria: Should I use a gait belt?

Nurse Rebecca: Good thinking, but she’s steady on her feet. Just stay close in case she needs support. After the procedure, we might need to put her in Trendelenburg position if her blood pressure drops.

CNA Maria: That’s the position where her head is lower than her feet, correct?

Nurse Rebecca: Right! It helps increase blood flow to the brain. And if she feels faint afterward, we’ll have her lie in prone position – face down – or back to supine position depending on what the doctor orders.

CNA Maria: I’m getting better at remembering all these positions!

Nurse Rebecca: You are! Understanding proper positioning and body mechanics is essential for patient safety and comfort. It’s all part of providing excellent patient care and preventing WRMD for ourselves too.

---

Vocabulary Review

Key terms used in these dialogues:

• Activities of Daily Living (ADL) – Basic self-care tasks
• Alignment – Proper positioning of the body
• Ambulate – To walk or move about
• Base of support – The area between your feet when standing
• Body mechanics – Using your body efficiently and safely
• Dangle – Sitting on the edge of the bed with feet hanging down
• Dorsal recumbent – Lying on back with knees bent
• Fowler’s position – Sitting up at 45-degree angle
• Gait belt – Safety device worn around waist for support
• Grasp – To hold firmly
• Hoyer lift – Brand name for mechanical patient lift
• Lateral position – Lying on one’s side
• Lift/draw/turn – Techniques for moving patients
• Lift team – Group of staff members who assist with transfers
• Lithotomy – Position with hips and knees bent, feet in stirrups
• Logroll – Technique to turn patient while keeping spine aligned
• Mechanical lift – Equipment used to lift patients safely
• Pivot – To turn around a central point
• Prone position – Lying face down
• Sim’s position – Side-lying position with bent knee
• Supine position – Lying flat on back
• Trapeze – Overhead bar patients can use to lift themselves
• Trendelenburg – Position with head lower than feet
• Total Quality Improvement (TQI) – Program to improve healthcare quality
• Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WRMD) – Injuries from workplace activities