HOB
Medical abbreviation · Nursing
| Stands for | Head of bed |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
HOB stands for Head of bed, a nursing abbreviation.
Bed position setting, written with the angle of elevation in degrees, used to reduce aspiration, ease breathing and lower intracranial pressure. Ventilated patients are usually kept at 30 to 45 degrees to help prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia, and tube-fed patients stay elevated during feeds.
Example: Keep HOB at or above 30 degrees at all times while tube feeds are infusing.
Usage notes
Often charted as "HOB elevated 30 degrees" or "HOB > 30". Flat positioning may be ordered after some procedures, such as femoral sheath removal. Reverse Trendelenburg tilts the whole bed instead of bending it at the hip, which is preferred when spinal precautions prevent flexing the trunk.
Related abbreviations
More nursing abbreviations
- FR – Fluid restriction
- FSBG – Fingerstick blood glucose
- FSBS – Fingerstick blood sugar
- FWF – Free water flush
- HAPI – Hospital-acquired pressure injury
- HL – Heparin lock
- HOH – Hard of hearing
- I&O – Intake and output
- INT – Intermittent needle therapy (intermittent infusion device)
- IPC – Intermittent pneumatic compression
- IS – Incentive spirometry
- IUC – Indwelling urinary catheter
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This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.