digital stimulation, any suggestions

Nurses General Nursing

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digital stimulation, help. Have any of you done it. Had to do it a couple of times and it was horrible. I would appreciate any advice. The person I have to do this to needs it done for 10 mins at a time for up to an hour. First, I don't have that kind of time. Second it is offensive to me. Third it hurts my finger. This person asks specifically for female caregivers, and that means me. I am not feeling good about this at all. :o

I agree. We went to school to treat the whole pt. Any obstruction that needs cleared, whether it be respiratory, or bowel, that we can clear, we are to do it! If a pt NEEDS dug out, that's what you do. I agree with the person who said circles. I've only ever had to do digital stim once, but that is how the pt's caregiver instructed me, and it was very effective.

:imbar :imbar :imbar

would you do a digital to see if there was even stool in the rectal vault?

and fyi, yes, you DID go to school to treat the whole patient.

Specializes in medical surgical ward &Ob ward.

hahaa... . I thought its something else..hahaha... the post got my attention. Well, so that's what it is, I really don't know it , glad I learned something.Thanks alot. Is there anything, a gadget or any object perhaps which are safe and as effective as the finger that can be used instead?

first, thanks for the work your doing. next; do not attempt treatments or techniques for which you are not qualified. do not allow your employer to intimidate you into doing any treatment for which you are not qualified. by doing this, you place your self, your employer, and, more importantly, your patient in a position of liability or potential harm. i'm an incomplete sci tetra and spent a month at TIRR, where they have care assistants or "techs" who are trained in-house to administer digital stim in very moderated intervals. if you have access to a physical therapy department, ask them to provide you w/ an appliance which is specifically designed to allow most sci's to accomplish the task independently. (if the pt is requesting only female nursing, its most likely they need someone w/ smaller, less painful digits, good news: the appliance is even smaller). if this remains an issue w/ your employer, look for advocacy from your charge nurse, union steward, or HR dept. as a last resort, seek advice from your certifying institution.

in conclusion, always consider: what's right and/or reasonable, for-see-ability of harm, and how would you want your family member treated. seems common sense is anything but.

in conclusion, always consider: what's right and/or reasonable, for-see-ability of harm, and how would you want your family member treated. seems common sense is anything but.

happysci, i just wanted to point out this thread is almost 7 yrs old.

i notice many newbies respond to the old threads, as well.

anyways, enjoy the board, and welcome.:balloons:

leslie

Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.

But leslie-some subjects are timeless. And your classic reply = "you don't realize how many muscles your one finger has until after you've 'excercised' it. " That's as funny today as it was the first time I read it.....

sry, i overlooked the time stamp, im 2 years into my SCI and stumbled upon the post in my research.

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