Hand Massages

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Specializes in Med surg.

What are your feelings on providing hand massages to patients? They said it's to reduce stress. I Call BS. I think it's they want the patient satisfaction scores. If they keep adding task upon task and chart this and chart that, so many things to do as an RN and now hand massages. Really?

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What are your feelings on providing hand massages to patients? They said it's to reduce stress. I Call BS. I think it's they want the patient satisfaction scores. If they keep adding task upon task and chart this and chart that, so many things to do as an RN and now hand massages. Really?

That sounds horrific, to me.

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I think that's absurd! I understand the hypothetical benefit to the patient but to expect a nurse to have the time to massage people's hands is unreasonable. Do they really want you to chart that or are you exaggerating?

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Specializes in SICU, trauma, neuro.

I know an RN who does hand massages. She has her own massage therapy biz and charges $35.

If admin wants to make the hospital more like a spa, they should hire a LMT. I don't know about you all, but I as an RN have zero training in massage. (Aforementioned RN is dually licensed as a massage therapist.) And when prioritizing all of the things we HAVE to do, a hand massage would be at the bottom -- including below my breaks.

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Specializes in ICU.

Um, no. Just no. What is wrong with our healthcare system??!!

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Specializes in Mental health, substance abuse, geriatrics, PCU.

Insert eye roll

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Wait - can foot massages be far behind?

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The nightly back-rub used to be standard nursing practice. I don't believe nurses nowadays have time for that, of course, but the principle is sound--nursing is the ultimate hands-on profession. It used to provide comfort, interpersonal contact, and physical relaxation. Now, we just don't have the time. I'm not saying nurses SHOULD give backrubs to each patient every night, but the initial idea, I think, was sound. It helped the patient relax, and it bolstered the nurse-patient relationship. Nothing beats the power of the human touch! I don't know that we should ask that it be ordered--because we really DON'T have the time, but the idea itself is really, truly appropriate--but that's just me.

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Specializes in Reproductive & Public Health.

Bring on a CNA to work "massage" shifts, and let patients opt in if they like the idea. Better yet, give nurses the time they need to connect with their patients. That's really good for patient satisfaction too. I swear to god, if i had "therapeutic massage" on my list of general nursing responsibilities, I would never ever ever check it off, even if I did it. Out of protest.

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Specializes in Tele, ICU, Staff Development.
What are your feelings on providing hand massages to patients? They said it's to reduce stress. I Call BS. I think it's they want the patient satisfaction scores. If they keep adding task upon task and chart this and chart that, so many things to do as an RN and now hand massages. Really?

Would the hand massages be before or after your med pass?

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Wow! Tomorrow the management will come up different type of massages. If they are so keen on that maybe they should hire someone so that the quality and quantity is not compromised. We have given massages to our patients when we had little free time or we were not that busy but usually nurses have had not enough time to do their important stuff and then they expect us to do more on top of that.

Its a very good idea to have pt's get massage but please don't sump it on the nurses.

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Specializes in Pediatric Critical Care.

My hospital has several massage therapists on staff. A consult can be entered into the computer for massage therapy and they will come see the patient. Bonus - the nurses often get free mini-shoulder massages too! This is a great addition to patient care in my opinion....but only because its done right. Not by adding it to the nurses task list. Do they really think that an over-busy nurses giving a rushed massage is going to make anybody happy?

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