CLINICAL DO’S & DON’TS

Logrolling a patient
BY RICHARD L. PULLEN, JR., RN, EDD

IF YOUR PATIENT’S body must remain in alignment after spinal surgery, use the logrolling technique when turning
him to protect him from injury and discomfort and to prevent complications. Logrolling requires at least two people
(three for a large patient). The two-person technique is shown here.
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DO
• Wash your hands. Provide privacy and explain the procedure to the
patient.
• Perform a baseline assessment of his neurologic status, including his
mental status, movement, and sensation.
• Use a turning sheet whenever possible, making sure it extends from
above his shoulders to below his hips. Cross his arms over his chest to
protect them from injury.

Raise the bed to an optimal working level. With both staff on the
same side of the bed, lower the side rail, roll the turning sheet snug
against the patient, and work in unison to carefully pull him toward you.
Raise the side rail and move to the other side of the bed.
• Position yourself and your colleague facing the patient. Lower the
side rail and place a pillow between his legs.

Reach over him and take hold of the turning sheet. If you’re responsi-
ble for his upper body (head to hips), your colleague should be responsi-
ble for his lower body (hips to feet).
• To synchronize your movements with your colleague’s, count, “One,
two, three, go.” Gently turn the patient so he rolls like a log—head,
shoulders, spine, hips, and knees turning simultaneously.
• Support his back, buttocks, and legs with pillows to maintain a side-
lying position.
• Raise the side rails and reassess his neurologic status and comfort
level.
• Document the procedure and his response in the medical record.

DON’T
BIRCK COX

• Don’t try to logroll the patient without enough help. Besides injuring
him, you could hurt yourself.
• Don’t move the patient until both people are prepared to move in
unison.
• Don’t twist the patient’s head, spine, shoulders, knees, or hips while
logrolling.

SELECTED REFERENCES
Berman, A., et al. (eds): Kozier & Erb’s Techniques in Clinical Nursing, 5th edition. Upper Saddle River,
N.J., Pearson Education, 2002.
Groeneveld, A., et al.: “Logrolling: Establishing Consistent Practice,” Orthopaedic Nursing. 20(2):45-49,
March-April 2001.
Richard L. Pullen, Jr., is a professor of nursing at Amarillo (Tex.) College. Each month, this department illustrates
key clinical points for a common nursing procedure. Because of space constraints, it's not comprehensive.

22 Nursing2004, Volume 34, Number 2 www.nursingcenter.com