One of the most vital steps in the lumbar puncture is positioning your patient. Raise the bed to a comfortable height for you. Lie the patient on their side and bring their back to the edge of the bed. Instruct your patient to curl into the fetal position, arching their lower back. At this point it is imperative that your patient's shoulders and hips are perpendicular to the bed. This will ensure the spinal anatomy is aligned for an easy lumbar puncture.