Can I have a kiss???

madwife2002, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2008

Lots of time but I have a very cheeky way about me so I always come up with a quib and it works. The only time I was speechless was when my Grandfather who is in a LTC facility in OHio and has Ahltimers said to me 'wow you've grown up to be a big girl' and them prompty squeezed my boobs!!

queenjean · Apr 9, 2008

I've given a few of my pts kisses--you know, the occasional LOLs who give you a hug and a kiss; when I hug them back I'll plant a *light* kiss on their cheek or on their forehead. Not on the lips, though.

Really, I do this very rarely--but they are just too sweet sometimes, and the touch and affection seems to bring them so much joy.

When I worked nursery and peds, I'd sometimes give the wee ones a peck...only if they were clean, or course, and if it were appropriate. The little kids in peds, especially if their parents couldn't be there, really needed it, particularly at bedtime. When you try to do the entire bedtime ritual with them, you can't hardly help but give them a hug and a kiss on the forehead as you are tucking them in. We give them so much negative touch--injections, etc--that it is nice once in a while to give them touch that makes them feel better.

Penelope_Pitstop, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2008

we had a rather...feisty gentleman on our floor. he offered one nurse $20 to sleep with him. of course, he was rather confused, and he required a low bed with bed exit alarm. one night, his bed exit alarm went off, and all three rns on the floor came running in to make sure he was okay (he was my patient; they were both helpful and bored). he informed me later that "when those three girls came in to make out with me a little bit ago...that was like viagra!"

the best ever, though...

a woman with a psych history longer than her medical history, was being very loud at 4 am. her poor roommate hadn't slept, so i went in and said to the first patient, "ms. ____, your roommate is trying to sleep and it's four in the morning. is there any way you could be more quiet?"

her response: "well, why don't you strip?"

"no, thank you." (i didn't know what else to say).

"why not?"

"i'm at work, so it's not very professional."

"whyyyy......y-m-c-a!" complete with hand motions...

off topic, yeah...sorry about that, but i just had to share.

jess

leslie :-D · Apr 9, 2008

Lots of time but I have a very cheeky way about me so I always come up with a quib and it works. The only time I was speechless was when my Grandfather who is in a LTC facility in OHio and has Ahltimers said to me 'wow you've grown up to be a big girl' and them prompty squeezed my boobs!!

aw gramps, shucks!:rotfl:

leslie

leslie :-D · Apr 9, 2008

Had one old guy ask me if I thought his beard was soft. I said I guess so, then he told me imagine how soft it would be between my breasts....

oh.

my.

gosh.

my heart just dropped to my feet...

i was expecting something else.

what do they put in their meds???

leslie

santhony44, MSN, RN, NP · Apr 9, 2008

My husband, who is not medical, was once on an elevator in a senior citizen's high-rise apartment building with a co-worker when a LOL got on. (They were there on business). The LOL remarked that she just loved DH's beard, then proceeded to reach up and caress and pat his beard and face! DH was horribly embarrassed. His co-worker was almost on the floor laughing.

Then a number of years ago a CNA I worked with was taking care of an elderly gentleman who offered her money to spank him. He had been quite prominent in the community in his time.

casi, ASN, RN · Apr 9, 2008

If they are confused I normally smile and say, "How about a hug instead?"

If they are being innappropriate I back out of the room and send in a male CNA.

hikernurse · Apr 9, 2008

when i worked nursery and peds, i'd sometimes give the wee ones a peck...only if they were clean, or course, and if it were appropriate. the little kids in peds, especially if their parents couldn't be there, really needed it, particularly at bedtime. when you try to do the entire bedtime ritual with them, you can't hardly help but give them a hug and a kiss on the forehead as you are tucking them in. we give them so much negative touch--injections, etc--that it is nice once in a while to give them touch that makes them feel better.

i do the same thing. it is nice to give them a little feeling of home. you can see how it relaxes them. i'd like to know that a nurse was treating my child fondly if i couldn't be there.

i worked new years eve and was in a room with several babies. each parent, at some point in the evening, either asked in person or called and asked if we could give their little one a kiss at midnight. we nurses laughed, but you can bet each baby got one :).

i had an elderly man ask me to sit on his lap and another time to strip naked and run up and down the ward for him....hmmm let me see....no thanks lol
the sad thing is it is the best offer i have had in a long time lol

funny :). brings a whole new meaning to increasing your daily physical activity level.

Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN · Apr 9, 2008

If they are confused I normally smile and say, "How about a hug instead?"
If they are being innappropriate I back out of the room and send in a male CNA.

I guess that since I work in the ER and every patient is a stranger could explain my surprise at the idea that nurses will hug their patients. I have a strict hands off policy, and I politely tell patients that I don't give out hugs and kisses and besides, I've been working all day in the dirty hospital so I have all sorts of creepy crawlies on my uniform.... so I look at it as not spreading germs... :wink2:

There is no reason why we need to give out hugs and kisses (or gratuitous spongebaths, for that matter).

Blee

rn/writer, RN · Apr 9, 2008

One of my daughters is a CNA at a very nice LTC facility. She works PMs and has the job of putting the residents to bed. She has really developed an affection for her regulars and they value her. In fact, she is the one the other staff members call when someone is pitching a fit or resisting care. She has a way about her that cuts through the power struggle and de-escalates the tension very quickly.

If a male resident gets out of line with her, she'll say something like, "Come on, Frank, you know better than that." She's very matter-of-fact and doesn't become shocked or judgmental, but she isn't shy about setting boundaries.

On the other hand, she often tucks her residents in with a little peck on the forehead or cheek and a squeeze of the hand. For most of them, this is the only non-clinical touch they receive in a day's time, and it means a lot to them.

When she left her last job to come to the current place, many of her residents cried because she was one of the few CNAs for whom working there was more than just a job. She didn't just tolerate the old people, she loved them, and they knew it.

LTC is different from acute care because you have the chance to develop long-standing relationships with people and you are caring for them in what is their home setting. If my daughter were working in a hospital, I'm sure she would have much stricter boundaries.

I'm glad she and her old people have each other. If I ever end up in LTC, I hope I have someone like my youngest girl looking out for me.

hikernurse · Apr 9, 2008

One of my daughters is a CNA at a very nice LTC facility. She works PMs and has the job of putting the residents to bed. She has really developed an affection for her regulars and they value her. In fact, she is the one the other staff members call when someone is pitching a fit or resisting care. She has a way about her that cuts through the power struggle and de-escalates the tension very quickly.
If a male resident gets out of line with her, she'll say something like, "Come on, Frank, you know better than that." She's very matter-of-fact and doesn't become shocked or judgmental, but she isn't shy about setting boundaries.
On the other hand, she often tucks her residents in with a little peck on the forehead or cheek and a squeeze of the hand. For most of them, this is the only non-clinical touch they receive in a day's time, and it means a lot to them.
When she left her last job to come to the current place, many of her residents cried because she was one of the few CNAs for whom working there was more than just a job. She didn't just tolerate the old people, she loved them, and they knew it.
LTC is different from acute care because you have the chance to develop long-standing relationships with people and you are caring for them in what is their home setting. If my daughter were working in a hospital, I'm sure she would have much stricter boundaries.
I'm glad she and her old people have each other. If I ever end up in LTC, I hope I have someone like my youngest girl looking out for me.

I always feel so bad about older patients who are in long-term care facilities. Most have spent the majority of their lives touching and being touched--either through marriage or having children--and a lot no longer get this. I imagine affectionate touching is sorely missed.

Good for your girl :). We need more like her.