digital stimulation, any suggestions

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in LPN.

digital stimulation, help. Have any of you done it. Had to do it a couple of times and it was horrible. I would appreciate any advice. The person I have to do this to needs it done for 10 mins at a time for up to an hour. First, I don't have that kind of time. Second it is offensive to me. Third it hurts my finger. This person asks specifically for female caregivers, and that means me. I am not feeling good about this at all. :o

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I'm not sure exactly what you're stimulating, but it doesn't sound like routine nursing care to me...:uhoh3:

Whatever it is, nothing should ever be stimulated for an hour! :eek:

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Specializes in Home Health Case Mgr.

Put the patient in simms position (if able) and lube up HIS finger and tell him to get after it! Following the Kantianism theory...we should all care for ourselves for the best of our abilities. He must motivate himself to this task. It is ashamed nurses are asked or expected to do so many tasks that the patient OR HIS FAMILY could do. IT is the "Flight Stewardess" attitude. HANG IN THERE...FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT>>>

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Dig stim for 10 minutes at a time is inappropriate, can lead to damage to rectal wall.

In spinal cord injury digital stimulation of the rectum is used to stimulate peristalsis and help the stool move down into the rectal vault for evacuation and/or removal. The standard is dig stim 5 times, wait 15 minutes, check rectal vault, remove stool and repeat process until no more stool is felt in rectal vault.

I have taken care of a patient who wanted dig stim for 5 minutes at a time, darn near killed my finger.

More information can be found on the Spinal Cord Injury Information Network.

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i believe you're talking about inserting your finger in the pt's orifice, yes????

why in heck for 10 minutes????????

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Dig stim for 10 minutes at a time is inappropriate, can lead to damage to rectal wall.

In spinal cord injury digital stimulation of the rectum is used to stimulate peristalsis and help the stool move down into the rectal vault for evacuation and/or removal. The standard is dig stim 5 times, wait 15 minutes, check rectal vault, remove stool and repeat process until no more stool is felt in rectal vault.

I have taken care of a patient who wanted dig stim for 5 minutes at a time, darn near killed my finger.

More information can be found on the Spinal Cord Injury Information Network.

Ok...I understand now. Would a glycerin supp. not be effective? It seems much less traumatic to the rectum than 5 minutes of stim. I've never worked with SCI patients. Would the patient not be at risk of vagal brady?

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Ok...I understand now. Would a glycerin supp. not be effective? It seems much less traumatic to the rectum than 5 minutes of stim. I've never worked with SCI patients. Would the patient not be at risk of vagal brady?

no because they're not exerting neg pressure/bearing down.

5 minutes is much more reasonable, but still no easy feat. you don't realize how many muscles your one finger has until after you've 'excercised' it.

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.
i believe you're talking about inserting your finger in the pt's orifice, yes????...

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

Agree the post wasn't clear. (Thought that's what the poster was talking about too, but could've been interpretted as something else.)

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Specializes in LPN.

Thanks for your replies. I think this pts demands are unreasonable too. But, management sees it otherwise. I think we should all share in the fun. What happens if I get I hurt finger = Worksman's comp? Would you like to fill in that form?

I talked to another nurse who had to do this on a pt who used a mirror and watched her the whole time. I think there should be a policy on this somewhere. I understand wanting good care, but this pt is quite crazy about this. Do I have to cater to his every whim, that's not good nursing either.

Here's another question, as I sit with my finger you know where and my face close enough as well, what thoughts can you run through your head to get your mind far far away from what your body is doing.

Here's another question, is there an implement that can be used, it seems like using my finger should be my option, not his.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.

Utterly glamorous work!:p

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Thanks for your replies. I think this pts demands are unreasonable too. But, management sees it otherwise. I think we should all share in the fun. What happens if I get I hurt finger = Worksman's comp? Would you like to fill in that form?

I talked to another nurse who had to do this on a pt who used a mirror and watched her the whole time. I think there should be a policy on this somewhere. I understand wanting good care, but this pt is quite crazy about this. Do I have to cater to his every whim, that's not good nursing either.

Here's another question, as I sit with my finger you know where and my face close enough as well, what thoughts can you run through your head to get your mind far far away from what your body is doing.

Here's another question, is there an implement that can be used, it seems like using my finger should be my option, not his.

You stated in your original post that this patient requests female staff for this. I assumed from that it was a female patient, but as I see from this post, we are talking about a male specifically requesting a female. This is an entirely inappropriate request. Who is catering to this?

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Just another thought - anyone who is capable of using a mirror to watch is capable of doing this for themselves!

I cannot put into words how disgusted I am! This is nurse abuse.

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