Holding Hands at Work

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

This happens to me every so often and it happened again today. What would you do?

I am a PACU nurse and we do computer charting. After the patient arrives and gets hooked up to monitors, I make an initial assessment, check breathing, dressing etc. then I sit down literally inches from the stretcher and start charting. Today the patient woke up and asked "Can I hold your hand?" I have done this before and here's what happens. Sometimes they can grip you pretty hard (I have arthritis in my hands) or scratch you with fingernails but it's not life-threatening. Some will want to hold your hand for a loooooong time. What makes me hesitate is, I can't get anything done. I can't chart, can't check orders, can't call for a room assignment. I'm trapped!

It sounds so heartless to turn them down but we really are pushed to get 'em out and and get another one. Before, I could hold their hand with one of mine and write with the other but the computer program we have requires we use both keyboard and mouse so it takes two hands.

Suggestions? Funny/witty excuses? Get a fake hand? What were YOU thinking this thread was about?

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Specializes in Acute Care Pediatrics.

Awwww, the joys of anesthesia! :)

I will say that I never ever turn down the request of my presence. Sometimes it's the best healing intervention that I have. Of course, I am a floor nurse and I have more time at the bedside with each patient than you do. Our jobs are different.

I would sit with them for a moment. Give them that gift of your time... and then reassure them. Tell them they are ok and that you are still nearby if they need you, and then go about your merry way.

I know charting is necessary. I know that we have to do it. But sometimes I think we get so hung up on clicking those boxes in the computer that we forget that our real job is not in that computer, but at the bedside.

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What PedsRN said! (and since you asked I thought this thread was about PDA among nurses! *disappointed*)

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LOL, I thought this thread was about some cutesy couple who work together while dating :D

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I was 50 - 50 what the heading meant. Either holding a patient's hand or maybe a cutesy co-worker couple. (I thought maybe a same sex couple which could make some people uneasy.)

My charting stinks (we don't use computers). But I pride myself that I am at the patient's bedside not sitting at the nurses stating making my charting all pretty and complete! Hold their hand for as short or long as you reasonably can...then tell them you have to get back to work, call their floor nurse, check what the Dr. ordered, etc. they will understand.

And most important (a Dr. taught me this years ago) if you give your hand for patients to hold (or squeeze) give them two fingers. Squeezing two fingers together hardly hurts...squeezing three or more fingers hurts.

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Specializes in public health.

Can you get a prosthetic hand and tie it to your waist? So when the pt asks you to hold hands, you can say "sure, grab that one right there." :) Sorry, I don't have any real suggestions.

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Can you get a prosthetic hand and tie it to your waist? So when the pt asks you to hold hands, you can say "sure, grab that one right there." :) Sorry, I don't have any real suggestions.

Hmmm, just imagining what the average nurse wouldn't give to have one or two EXTRA hands... :D

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Specializes in 15 years in ICU, 22 years in PACU.

Thank you all for your insight and suggestions. This truly is a minor "problem" just wanted to ask around and have a little fun with the title too.

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This is what typing with my extra hand looks like. Don't think it'll be starting any IVs.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Emergency, CEN.
"... Get a fake hand? ...

You made me cough up my coffee. That was a good one.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

Get a folded blanket or towel, have the pt hold that and cough and deep breathe.

Unless the patient is dying or in extreme distress, I am not going to be manipulated into holding hands.

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"You don't want to know where this hand has been."

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

I'm a touchy, huggy person in general so really don't mind holding someone's hand (generally the ones who've asked I've sensed are truly scared; not ones who are flirting with me). I generally say "I can for a couple of minutes, and then I need to check to see if your dr. has put in any orders/call your floor nurse to fill her in on your case" etc.--something to know that when I let go, it's because I need to do something to help them.

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