giving a massage after a bath..?

[sameasalways]

We start clinicals in a week and we were told by our instructor that we are required to give our patient a massage after their sponge bath. Is this normal?

[catzy5]

ROFL on the dinosaurs!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am too. We did back rubs routinely for the patients and never had a patient think I was "hitting on" them. All were and are appreciative for this comfort measure.

I discovered the back rub last semester in my first clinical rotation, to me this has been the best thing I can give to my patients and it has won me over many a time! I had one gentlemen tell me he couldn't even get anyone to help him wash his face little loan offer him a back rub he was thrilled. I also had a patient with severe dementia completely snap back to reality she went from being on restraints to having coherent conversations with me, I discovered the magic potion is in the Lotion! I will always use this in my care as a nurse, my instructor brought out especially with some of our older clients coming in from nursing homes etc, having someone actually touch them is very rare and it is so apprectiated so yes, the message back rub whatever you want to call it, get your hands on your patient and give them care and comfort.

[Natingale, EdD, RN]

Yep I did it last week after my patients shower, I told her it was to promote circulation and she was fine with it and so was I.