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

[silt]

As a rule, if I'm not too tired, I always give backrubs and take care of my patients feet and legs. I do this on all of them. Others only wash their face and hands and that constitutes a bath. I am sometimes not done until 10:15 at night. Sometimes I'm questioned about why I took so long and I just tell them, "I did complete care on all of them."

No one really argues.

[SionainnRN]

When I was in the ICU I would bathe and lotion up my vented pts. If they look like they had good hygiene before hand I'd make the extra effort to keep that up, but sometimes they are too unstable for us to do anything other than foley and oral care. Now in the ER there's no way. I do however try to give some physical comfort by touching shoulders and arms. Sometimes we are so busy in the ER the patient doesn't get any contact other than IV insertion and being moved for tests.

[pollycare]

It is really too bad that there almost never enough time or staff to give pts. or residents intangible but effective care like massage regularly. I'd certainly not expect it in a busy ER, with somebody seizing on the next gurney etc! I'm just really saddened that LTC is so understaffed. It's a scandal, really.

A touch on the shoulder does so much to comfort, though, and hardly takes any time at all.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

pollycare, I'm really glad you came back to this thread after making the transition from class/clinicals to employment.

[anglscr127]

Get one of your male CNA to do it rather than you, you know he needed it and did benefit, so whats the problem? None just go around the problem, You are a nurse,

Thank you,

[anglscr127]

"They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

~Maya Angelou

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

They do have a company that will come in for massages but no idea on the cost. They do haircuts too. I don't do it because we don't have time i the ER.