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Moving a patient from bed to a wheelchair

Pivot turn; Transfer from bed to wheelchair

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Description

Follow these steps to move a person from their bed to a wheelchair. The technique below assumes the person can stand on at least one leg.

If the person cannot use at least one leg, you will need to use a lift to transfer them.

Preparation

Think through the steps before you act and get help if you need it. If the person is not able to stand, take small steps, and support their body weight, you should get help.

Make sure any loose rugs are out of the way to prevent slipping. You may want to put non-skid socks or shoes on the person's feet if  they need to step onto a slippery surface.

The following steps should be followed:

• Explain the steps to the person.
• Park the wheelchair next to the bed, parallel or at a slight angle.
• Put the brakes on and move the footrests out of the way.

Getting a Patient Ready to Transfer

Before transferring into the wheelchair, the person must be sitting.

Allow the person to sit for a few moments, in case they feel dizzy when first sitting up.

The following steps should be followed when getting ready to transfer the person:

• To get the person into a seated position, roll them onto the same side as the wheelchair.
• Put one of your arms under the person's shoulders and one behind the knees. Bend your knees.
• Swing the person's feet off the edge of the bed and use the momentum to help them into a sitting position.
• Move the person to the edge of the bed and lower the bed so their feet are touching the ground.

Pivot Turn

If you have a gait belt, place it on the person to help you get a grip during the transfer. During the turn, the person can either hold onto you or reach for the wheelchair. They should not wrap their arms around your head or neck.

Stand as close as you can to the person, reach around the chest, and lock your hands behind them or grab the gait belt.

The following steps should be followed:

• Place the person's outside leg (the one farthest from the wheelchair) between your knees for support. Bend your knees and keep your back straight.
• Count out loud to three and slowly stand up. Use your legs to lift and shift your weight from your front leg to your back leg.
• At the same time, the person should place their hands by their sides and help push off the bed.
• The person should help support their weight during the transfer.
• Pivot towards the wheelchair, moving your feet so your back is aligned with your hips.
• Once the person’s legs are touching the seat of the wheelchair, bend your knees and move your weight from your back to your front leg to lower them into the seat. At the same time, ask them to reach for the wheelchair armrest.

If the person starts to fall during the transfer, lower them to the nearest flat surface, bed, chair, or floor.

When to Call the Doctor

Contact the person's health care provider if they fall.

References

Bergman R, De Jesus O. Patient care transfer techniques. [Updated 2022 Oct 17]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564305. Accessed December 3, 2025.

De Jong MR. Essentials of patient care for the sonographer. In: Hagen-Ansert SL, ed. Textbook of Diagnostic Sonography. 9th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 2.

Review Date: 10/19/2025  

Reviewed By: Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH, ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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