Do you give back-rubs and foot baths to your patients? - Page 4

Nope. Too weird. Maybe in more innocent times.... But those days are long gone.

I *am* a big believer of warming up some Vicks with hand friction, and then massaging it into my elderly pt's sore hands/knees. Works great for arthritis.

Excellent idea Brandon.. will try it on myself and others.

Just wondering... is this a treatment.. that we would need an order for ?

The Menthol LTC, huh? I'm kidding. My mother thought Vicks cured everything Karo Syrup and Calamine Lotion didn't, including swallowing a little bit of it for a persistent dry cough.

Not if nobody knows but you, the resident and the four walls! (seriously, I really doubt you need an order fro some Vicks)

I never really gave a "back rub" per se, but I would rub on some lotion after a bath on the pts back and legs. Sometimes we would rub into their back or feet the protective ointment that smells like cloves it their skin was super dry and flaky.


I would also rub their back after Chest PT.

I worked ICU by the way.

My babies get all the snuggles and rubs they need (assuming I have time.) Older kids? For my kids with CP, they generally get some good rubbing if I've got time for it, especially if they don't have a parent with them. All that spasticity has to hurt, especially the ones who are getting twisted scoliosis backs.
When I did adults, the older folks would get some back rubs if I had time, but that was RARE.

I hate feet and I am terrible at back rubs, I don't even give my husband back rubs. There are a lot of things I will do for my patients but those are not included. I will rub in lotion of course but I think that's different.

I had a patient whose wife applied lotion and then per his request massaged him. That's fine, BUT she then went to his butt and the man got a full rub down. At home people, not the hospital.

I give back rubs and foot rub to my geriatric patients ( my little old people I call them) hehe. I also give hugs and kisses but only to the adorable older ones. I don't usually do much touching to the younger generations unless there is a need for it. I'll put lotion on someone's back no matter what age if it's part of am care but not just because. I had this sweeeet 92 year old British lady that I spoiled the crap out of last week. She was so darn cute. Made me Laugh every time she said knickers heheheh. I dread the day I no longer have time for this stuff......

"No day but today"

In the old days, massage was part of the bedside nursing protocol. In fact, it's still mentioned as such in nursing fundamentals classes. Now not only is there no time for such "luxuries," but it's clear that some nurses are grossed out by the idea, either because they have their own touch issues, or they find some feet to be repellant.

I understand that it may not be appropriate for a nurse without any training in massage to do much more than a back rub, and that it's generally not appropriate for a psychiatric nurse, etc., but, as a licensed massage therapist, I find some of comments troubling.

Massage itself is therapeutic. I wish more hospitals had programs where LMTs with training in medical massage volunteer to treat patients who are receptive to the idea.

No last foot rub I gave was to a middle age man who claimed he had trouble walking/reaching his achy feet.
Next day I come to work he was walking around and told some other male pt that I was hitting on him ( in much dirtier words) and other male pt leered at me...so never again!! Unless it is witness by an aide during bathing perhaps a back rub when changing positions.