Your favorite "extra" thing to do for patients

[Nurse Ratched]

We all have things we'd like to be able to do for patients when time allows. We get many many geriatric folks at my work (from home or nursing homes) who haven't had nail care in AGES. I love to get folks trimmed up (discreetly, of course - the policies are so funny about nail care.)

Another nurse I worked with felt like she wasn't doing her job if her bedbound patients didn't get a backrub at bedtime.

What do you like to do special for your patients "just because" (not because some made it a script or a customer satisfaction ploy.)

[MQ Edna]

Originally posted by ucavalpn

[b.

And HUGS , I love giving / getting hugs.:) [/b]

Me too! Hugs all the way. I hug patients, visitors, staff, and even small stray animals, if I can get my hands on them. :chuckle I hope it makes them feel better, because it sure helps me!:kiss

[hoolahan, ASN, RN]

Sleepyeyes, I had an aide teach me to use mouthwash in the bathwater to get rid of skanky crotch smell (I'm sorry, I don't know how else to say it, and I know you all know what I mean here, LOL!)

I confess I have shaved off mustaches on little old ladies.

I love to braid the hair of little old ladies after washing it too.

[Stormy]

Shaving cream, particularly "Gilette" works wonders on pits, butts and bottoms to get rid of "odors". Nothing like the fresh smell of shaving cream on a fella's butt!

[NurseDennie, BSN, RN]

I'm in research now, but it's funny how the old habits die hard. I take my research subjects to an electron beam CT of the chest and ask them to undress from the waist up and put on a hospital gown. To this day, when I see somebody in a hospital gown, out of bed, I rub their back in an encouraging and assessing way.

When I had a patient ambulate, I'd always check the bed for wrinkles, crumbs, etc., and check the person's back and give it a bit of a between-bath rub.

One thing I did "extra" was if I was taking care of a retired service person, I'd find out his/her rank and call him/her by that, and pass it on to the following shift. It means a lot to the career military guys I took care of.

Love

Dennie

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

Originally posted by Stormy

Nothing like the fresh smell of shaving cream on a fella's butt!

Smells like....VICTORY .

I hope I have a nurse who cares enough to pluck my chin hairs! Thanks, night owl :).

I'll have to try some of the de-funking ideas at work - truly great stuff we learn here!

[alwaysthere]

I try to talk with them while i am caring for them, find out their hobbies, jobs etc. Rub down backs and legs w/lotion while i am giving care. Esp with our auquatherapy pt's as they often have dryer skin from pool chemicals. Also i write down how i cared for them the first time so if they stay long enough for me to care for them again they wont have to explain what they want me to do for them all over again! (I know if there is any thing i hate it's having to repeat my self a million times!!)

[deespoohbear]

I like giving back rubs with warmed lotion. I would put the lotion bottle in the patient's basin of warm water to sit. I would wash the patient and then get the warmed lotion and rub their backs. Not only would their backs get a good rub down, my hands would get an extra dose of lotion. I don't get the chance to do many bed baths anymore though.

The other thing I like to do is just sit down and talk to my patients, especially some of the elderly. I love to hear about what their life was like. I have really learned a lot. Some of them really have fascinating lives. I have taken care of a lady who has been married 75 years! That is almost beyond my comprehension.

Great thread.

:)

[mario_ragucci]

I give folks a facial massage with a warm wet towel. I will wash their hair. I do everything the right way. I'll get their guests anything they want. If they have small kids, I'll get'em ice cream or sherbert.

Sometimes I will hold one of their hands in both of mine and they know I care and I like to see them enjoy that I care so much, and the touch communicates that.

[EricaCCRN]

I used to bring in Mr bubble bubble bath with some good smelling lotion from bath & body works for our young trauma (and the stinky grandmas too). Also, those young traumas had their legs & pits shaved by ME. Not to toot my own horn, but I'd take these people & pamper them for two or three night shifts, but then I'd come back after a stretch off & could tell NO ONE cared for them.

[Fgr8Out]

Backrubs with baby lotion... very nice. And when I can, I like to sit with my patient's and just let them TALK... about whatever is on their minds... sometimes the stress relief is so great when a patient can get whatever is troubling them off their chest.

What wonderful people you all are... with all of your caring.

Peace:)

[Dayray, RN]

Id have to say talking is my favorite thing to do with patients. I like to learn about them and allow them to talk about their problems, hopes, dreams. I especialy like helping them threw hard destions or educating them about their medical issues. I love to hold their hands too.

[Flo1216]

I like to wash their hair. Some of these eldery patients have serious " hospital head". I also have a thing about ears. I had a young AIDS patient who was paralyzed from a stroke ad I used to clean her ears. I don't like it when MY ears feel waxy.