What it means
A body position with the front of the body down and the back up, the opposite of supineSOO-pineLying flat on the back, face up.Full entry . It is used for some surgeries and procedures on the back, and in intensive care to improve oxygen in clients with severe lung injury. In everyday English, "prone to" also means likely to, as in "prone to falls".
For the nurse
Healthy infants should be put to sleep on their back, not prone, to lower the risk of sudden infant death syndrome; supervised tummy time while awake is encouraged. For a prone adult, pad the face, chest, hips and knees to protect the skin.
Remember it
Prone is "on the tummy"; supine is "on the spine".
At a glance
| Spanish | decúbito prono, boca abajo |
|---|---|
| Also written | prone position, prone positioning |
Related terms
supine
Lying flat on the back, face up.
repositioning
Changing a client's body position on a regular schedule, or moving a device to a new place.