Aide Skills: Bed Mobility

12-Month Subscription

Unlimited access to:

Thousands of CE Courses
Patient Education
Home Exercise Program
And more

Subscribe Now

First Chapter Free Buy Course

Video Runtime: 12 Minutes; Learning Assessment Runtime: 1 Minute

Bed mobility is an important aspect of safe and effective care for patients. This training covers strategies for home health and nursing aides assisting patients with side-to-side positioning, moving up in bed, general repositioning, and preparing to get out of bed. The training also covers assistance with coming to a sitting position from lying, which is essential for completing transfers in and out of bed.

Meet your instructor

Adrienne Nova

Adrienne Nova is a physical therapist and the Director of Clinical Education at Pima Medical Institute’s Physical Therapist Assistant program in Seattle. She received her doctorate in physical therapy from the University of Washington in 2012, and in 2015, she became a Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults (CEEAA)…

Read full bio

Chapters & learning objectives

1. What Is Bed Mobility?

This introductory chapter defines bed mobility in the context of restorative nursing guidelines, and reviews key equipment, including electric beds, bed rails, and overhead trapezes.

2. Bed Mobility: Side-to-Side Positioning

Side-to-side positioning is essential for repositioning in bed and preparing to get out of bed for dressing or toileting. This chapter provides assistance strategies for rolling, scooting, and accomplishing other side-to-side maneuvers safely.

3. Bed Mobility: Moving Up in Bed

This chapter provides clinical tips and training for assisting residents moving themselves up in bed. Assistance moving up in bed is commonly required if the resident has been lying with the head of an electric bed elevated, or in cases where the resident needs to reposition.

4. Bed Mobility: Coming to a Sitting Position From Lying

Before residents can safely transfer out of bed, it is essential that they be able to come to a seated position in bed. The final section of this training provides training and clinical tips for assisting residents in sitting up while maintaining as much independence as possible.