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

Safe logrolling requires three people. This prevents injury to the resident and to the healthcare workers.
Two workers should stand on the side of the bed the resident is being rolled toward. One should stand on the opposite side.
Raise the bed to a comfortable working height.
Make sure that the draw sheet is under the resident and extends at least from the resident’s shoulders to their knees.
Have the resident cross their arms over their chest and place a small pillow between their knees.
The worker on the side the resident is being turned away from should fanfold the draw sheet until it is close to the resident.
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.
On the count of three, the two workers holding the draw sheet should pull toward themselves in a continuous, smooth motion.
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.
The workers holding the draw sheet should gently release the tension so that the resident rolls back onto the pillows.
Ask the resident if they are comfortable. Make adjustments as necessary.
Lower the bed back to the lowest position.
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

Feeding the Patient

Not all patients will need help feeding themselves. Some patients will only need assistance opening cartons or cutting their food. To promote independence, always let the patient do as much as he or she can before assisting. It is vitally important that the nurse’s aide verifies that the patient receives the correct meal tray. Patients may have special diets that play a critical role in their health (i.e., pureed diet, gluten-free diet, food allergies, etc.). Feeding the wrong food to the wrong patient could result in serious complications.

Assisting the Resident to Sit on the Side of the Bed

Having the resident sit on the side of the bed is otherwise referred to as dangling. When a resident quickly changes position, especially from lying to sitting or standing, there can be a rapid drop in the resident’s blood pressure. This drop in blood pressure may cause dizziness or lightheadedness.

Collecting a Stool Specimen

Stool specimens are collected to test for a variety of disorders from colon cancer to parasites. While it is not the most pleasant job, it is important that the collection is done correctly for accurate results.

Perineal Care of the Female Resident

Perineal care should be performed during a bath, after using the bedpan, and/or after incontinence. Proper technique is important for maintaining hygiene, preventing infection, and avoiding skin breakdown. Because of the close proximity between a woman’s urethra, vagina, and anus, it is essential to only wipe in a front to back motion. Wiping in the opposite direction is associated with a greater risk for developing a urinary tract infection.

Moving the Resident to the Side of the Bed

Residents are usually kept in the center of the bed for safety reasons. However, moving a resident to the side of the bed is an important step to take before turning a resident onto his or her side. Performing this action allows the resident to end up side lying in the center of the bed and not smashed up against the side rail.

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.