emotions and nursing care

pedsot · Aug 19, 2005

Just a suggestion-I am an occupational therapist and BSN student-when I work with CVA patients or anyone that is in pain during their therapy, I ask the med nurse to give them their pain meds prior to working with them if the doc has them taking them prn. If not I ask if we can get an order to give them to the patient prior to therapy so they arent in as much pain. Not sure if it would work, but you could try seeing if you could get the pt. pain meds in enough time prior to the bath that they would kick in.

Again, Im no nurse, just worked for me in the past for therapy-ADLs and exercise.

ali_gator · Aug 19, 2005

The pt. that i am asigned to take care of this clincial rotaion has a lot of pain. she had a cva and has rt. side paresis. however when i give her bath, and get her dressed etc she is in a lot of pain and she moans and sometimes begins to cry. I know that I am helping her by providing care but my heart breaks b/c i am causing someone pain. anyone else have similar experiences.

I'm only a student, so I can't give valid advice. I must say, you seem very compassionate. It sounds like your patients are very lucky to have you. :kiss

papawjohn · Aug 19, 2005

Hey Y'all

Saw a poll of nurses many years ago. 'What do you most hate to do to your pt?' or something like that. By a wide wide margin, Nurses hated causing pain. Something that I doubt has changed--and this was before the "rate your pain on a scale from 1--10" and emphasis on treating pain became so 'politically correct.'

Giving pain meds BEFORE doing things to Pt known to CAUSE pain is elementary but always worth the reminder.

Let me quess, your Pt was aphasic, right? I've found that aphasic Pts sometimes are SO D*** FRUSTRATED at not being able to talk that it drives them nuts. Just a suggestion, might be a component in your Pt's emotions.

Also, some neuro Pts suffer from an increase in the sensation of pain ("hyperesthesia"---what a bummer that would be, eh?).

Sometimes I can only console myself with this thought, 'if they think ROMs and Turning side-side q2h is painful they're really going to hate contractures, decubius ulcers, kidney stones and pneumonia.' Remember--YOU didn't give them a stroke!

Sadly,

Papaw John

rehabnurselpn · Aug 19, 2005

The pt. that i am asigned to take care of this clincial rotaion has a lot of pain. she had a cva and has rt. side paresis. however when i give her bath, and get her dressed etc she is in a lot of pain and she moans and sometimes begins to cry. I know that I am helping her by providing care but my heart breaks b/c i am causing someone pain. anyone else have similar experiences.

I work on a rehab unit and have taken care of a lot of stroke pt. Sometimes with a stroke the pt. will have a lot of pain because a part of there brain is effected that will cause more pain. Pain med usally won't even help. Also, they may cry alot because a part of the brain is effected that cause them to cry with no controll over it. My suggestion is to reasure the pt. that you know they are hurting and sometimes with a cva this happens and you will make her as comftorable as you can but, doing range of motion on the pt. will be of great help. The crying could be from the pain but, may also be from the cva. Try hot packs or ice to the area that seems to bother her the most. In most cases it is the shoulder of the effected side. Hope this helps. The more you move her the faster she will get streangth back. Hange in there and you will see her improve. It's the best feeling in the world when you see the results of your hard work! I get to see it daily on my rehab unit! :)