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Logrolling the Resident

Written by Amanda R. McDaniel, MS, BSN, RN
Amanda is a BSN/RN with a MS in Physiology and a BA in English. She worked as a medical writer in the pharmaceutical industry for 11 years before pursuing a career in nursing. She now works as a nurse on a NeuroTelemetry unit and continues to write and edit on a freelance basis. Amanda’s LinkedIn

Logrolling is a technique used to roll a resident onto their side without the resident helping, and while keeping the resident’s spine in a straight line. This is especially important for residents who have had spinal surgery or injury.

Logrolling Technique

  1. Safe logrolling requires three people. This prevents injury to the resident and to the healthcare workers.
  2. Two workers should stand on the side of the bed the resident is being rolled toward. One should stand on the opposite side.
  3. Raise the bed to a comfortable working height.
  4. Make sure that the draw sheet is under the resident and extends at least from the resident’s shoulders to their knees.
  5. Have the resident cross their arms over their chest and place a small pillow between their knees.
  6. The worker on the side the resident is being turned away from should fanfold the draw sheet until it is close to the resident.
  7. One worker on the side the resident is turning to face should grasp the fan-folded draw sheet at the resident’s lower back and shoulder. The other worker should grasp the draw sheet at the level of the resident’s lower hips and thighs.
  8. On the count of three, the two workers holding the draw sheet should pull toward themselves in a continuous, smooth motion.
  9. The worker now äóìbehindäó the resident should support the resident’s head in line with their body and immediately place a pillow under the resident’s head. If the resident is to stay on their side, this worker should place pillows along the resident’s back to help support them in that position.
  10. The workers holding the draw sheet should gently release the tension so that the resident rolls back onto the pillows.
  11. Ask the resident if they are comfortable. Make adjustments as necessary.
  12. Lower the bed back to the lowest position.
  13. Document the position per institutional or unit policy. Report any difficulty getting the resident into position, or maintaining position to the nurse per policy.

References

Activity and mobility. (2014). In A. G. Perry, P. A. Potter, and W. R. Ostendorf (Eds), Clinical nursing skills & techniques (8th ed., pp. 217). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.

More Resources

Performing Ostomy Care

Residents who have had a portion of their intestines removed due to illness or trauma may have a temporary or permanent ostomy, which is an opening in the abdomen that is created for the elimination of urine or feces. The portion of the intestine that is connected to the abdominal wall and is visible is called the stoma. A pouch is placed over the stoma to collect feces.

Moving the Resident from a Bed to a Stretcher or Gurney

Moving a patient from a bed to a stretcher can pose huge safety risks to both the patient and to the health care workers completing the transfer. Always use the appropriate amount of people to complete a transfer, which may vary according to the patient’s weight and/or the facility’s policy. In some cases, a mechanical lift may be needed.

Partial Bed Bath

Bathing is an important part of a patient’s health routine. A partial bed bath focuses on bathing sensitive areas that cause discomfort if not cleansed frequently, such as the face, hands, axillae, back, and perineum. Though patients receiving a bed bath are typically confined to the bed, some are able to wash themselves and should be encouraged to do so to promote independence.

Making an Occupied Bed

If a patient is bedridden or on bedrest, the bed linens will need to be changed while the patient is in the bed. For safety reasons, the nurse’s aid should avoid making an occupied bed if the patient is able to get out of bed. Bed linens should be changed according to the facility’s policy or anytime they are wet or soiled.

Removing Personal Protective Equipment

It is important to follow the correct procedure while removing personal protective equipment to avoid contaminating your skin or clothing. The most common source of contamination in this process stems from improper removal of gloves. Gloves are often the most soiled piece of equipment. To avoid contaminating your skin or the other equipment worn, gloves should always be removed first. Then remove the goggles, gown, and mask, in that order.

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