"Heating Pads"

[CanIcallmymom]

Is anyone else a grinch about them? I don't feel like they are truly necessary here 99.9% of the time... I am asked for them about 5 times/day, so I recently started telling people no. I feel it's excessive. The one's that come get them also think they need them every single day of their menstrual cycle each month, so it seems like a vicious cycle and I'm trying to cut down on some unnecessary visits. I have even had teachers asking for them... Is it awful to phase them out completely?

Curious on everyone else's thoughts.

[ruby_jane, BSN, RN]

3 hours ago, NurseBorg said:

I use rice filled socks that I heat up in the microwave and allow them to be used for 5-10 minutes in the clinic and then it's back to class.

Borg, you're a genius!!!

[JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN]

17 hours ago, jess11RN said:

I either got it from Amazon or Walmart...I can't remember.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0017Y3GGI?pf_rd_p=f3acc539-5d5f-49a3-89ea-768a917d5900&pf_rd_r=KKF3VM4G45MA457S57BM

This is the exact ice maker I have as well and I LOVE it. I got it for less than $100. And I love that it is red, lol.

I just use plastic baggies for the ice. I order those through MacGill when I order the rest of my nursing office supplies.

[CanIcallmymom, BSN, RN]

28 minutes ago, JenTheSchoolRN said:

This is the exact ice maker I have as well and I LOVE it. I got it for less than $100. And I love that it is red, lol.

I just use plastic baggies for the ice. I order those through MacGill when I order the rest of my nursing office supplies. 

Yall are the best! Thank you.

[Cattitude]

For cramps I do the el cheapo/no budget method.

Fold about 6-7 paper towels and wet them (saturated but not dripping). I zap in my microwave until very warm and stick them in a rubber glove or baggie. The girls place it in between their jeans and underwear so not directly on skin. They LOVE it and it the body heat helps the heat stay a bit longer.

No fancy gel packs here lol.

[ConnecticutMassRN]

I'm in elementary school, so I rarely have girls who request them for cramps. But, I do find they come in handy for some ailments (ear pain, neck pain). They are not allowed to leave my office with them (I have both electric and instant).

[CanIcallmymom, BSN, RN]

2 minutes ago, ConnecticutMassRN said:

I'm in elementary school, so I rarely have girls who request them for cramps. But, I do find they come in handy for some ailments (ear pain, neck pain). They are not allowed to leave my office with them (I have both electric and instant).

Yes, I like them for ear pain.

[Spidey's mom, ADN, BSN, RN]

Interesting timing . . . I'm laying on a heating pad tonight. Lower back pain all day so Ibuprofen and heating pad.

As to using them at school, when I was a school nurse, nope.

[GmaPearl BSN RN]

No use of heat in the last 20 years. Ice cubes in a plastic bag only.

[BrisketRN, BSN, RN]

I bought instant heat packs this year. Terrible decision. The middle school girls went crazy & all had "debilitating cramps" in the same week. I've gone back to my method from last year--home made rice in a sock. I stole 2 new tube socks from my husband, filled with rice, tied the end & microwave. The students hate them.

[Mango Juice]

11 hours ago, BiscuitRN said:

I bought instant heat packs this year. Terrible decision. The middle school girls went crazy & all had "debilitating cramps" in the same week. I've gone back to my method from last year--home made rice in a sock. I stole 2 new tube socks from my husband, filled with rice, tied the end & microwave. The students hate them.

Yep! Makes them change their minds about needing it real quick!