Back care for bed- ridden patient

[salmi]

Which stuff to use when doing back care for bed-ridden patient, with consideration of patient beeing febrile or not (e.g. we should not use oil if patient is running fever), and WHY? I know that we should not use any stuff that containes alcohol but what we should use if the patient is febrile?? Will the oil precipitate fever??

[salmi]

Please provide the reason for your vote or selection of any stuff you use in providing massage for patient confined to bed. If you are using other things please share them with us and explain the advantages.

Thanks..... Salmi

[live4today, RN]

I always used whatever lotion the patient had at their bedside when giving them a back massage. It worked for them, so that's all that mattered! :)

[Jenny P]

I use lotion for back cares and try to massage the muscles and relax the patient. The lotion is strictly used as a lubricant to enable the hands to glide over the back easier. If a patient is febrile, I may not use the lotion as it may only make the patient more uncomfortable (the patients' concept of feeling hot and sticky may intensify). I used to use powder, but don't any longer because of the way it can aerolize and affect both my and the patients' lungs. If the patient is hot and febrile, I may wash their back with lukewarm to warm water (depends on room temp) and use the towel to rub their back.

[night owl]

I usually wash the back first, rinse and dry with a towel. Then I use whatever the pt has available usually lotion of some kind, but never oil afebrile or not because it's never available! I never heard one complaint out of 26 years, so I must have done and still be doing something right.

[salmi]

Oil includes all kinds of lotions

[live4today, RN]

Great ideas JennyP!

[night owl]

So much for backrubs...

[Perk]

I personally prefer the use of baby powder though it is not available at every hospital. I find the baby powder great for warm days and a diapheretic pt. since it does have an absorbing quality. If I had the option of one or the other I would ask the pt if possible which they would prefere, or assess whether they could use the moisture of a lotion; or the absorbance of the powder since skin either too dry or to moist is not good.

[donmurray]

I never use talc powder, as it absorbs natural oils from the skin. Keep the skin clean by washing with water and hypoallergenic soap, rubbing gently to avoid shear stresses in the skin structure, which leads to breakdown. Dry by patting with a towel for the same reason.

[ROBIN WALTERS]

I prefer using talc especially on warm days. It seems to help keep the patient feeling dry & comfortable. I'd only use oils if the patient has really dry skin.