Has a patient ever asked you for a massage?

[danijohn]

Hey guys,

Has a patient ever asked you for a massage?

I have been a CNA/PCT for six years now and I am still uncomfortable with this question. Recently, a 30 y/o patient stated she "slept wrong" and had knots in her neck. She asked me if I could "massage her neck". I said I could get her a hot pack and see if the nurse could give her anything. However, when I worked home health care years ago, I had a 83 y/o patient with peripheral neuropathy who was crying in pain. She asked me to massage her feet. I just rubbed her feet and legs with lotion, which wasn't really a "massage".

Every patient and every situation is different. Often times I am uncomfortable when patient asks me this question. I am curious to see what other people think and how other people have responded to this request. I would love to hear your input.

[mrsboots87]

I have been told that and HS massage used to be offered as normal PM care for patients. Some peole feel weird about it and some don't. I personally feel that it is part of holistic care for a patient. You aren't giving them a therapeutic hour long massage or anything. Just a couple minutes of rubbing a sore area. I have a few residents in the LTC that I work at that occasionally ask for a rub. One likes his legs rub pretty firm with lotion because he has edema and it gets his fluids moving for him. Nurses OKd it, so we do it if asked. A few others like a lower back rub or a neck rub for a mnute or two sometimes from getting stiff in their wheel chairs. I can see a hospitalized patient needing a rub sometimes. As long as you aren't getting an innapropriate vibe from it and there aren't any contraindications like a patient with DVT asking for a leg massage, then I don't see any issue with it. I have declined a rub to a known perverted patient who gave a little smirk and touched my hand when asking though.

Just check your job description though. If theres nothing in there about providing any sort of massage, then you can't get in trouble for declining and just go with what youre comfortable with.

[Princess Bubblegum]

I've only ever been asked for "inappropriate" massages. Lovely. I was taught in my CNA class that back/foot/hand rubs with lotion should go along with bed baths and/or hand/foot care. Nothing special. I can't remember the last time I've had time in the hospital to sit down and really do some thorough hand/foot care though.

[applesxoranges, BSN, RN]

I don't know. I tell people no because massage therapy is a licensed position. The closest thing I would do for a massage is rub lotion in someone's skin.

Coworker massages, sometimes.