How often are you touching your patients?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I am a nurse from Czech Republic and I have a question about possible culture difference. We are taught that we can touch our patient as often as we like. Male patients is better to touch only in those body areas without sexual impact - for example shoulders or elbows. How often do you touch your clients (I am not speaking about normal touching by procedures) and do you have any problems with it? Sorry for my english I hope you will understand me.

Specializes in L&D.

I tend to touch as much as possible depending on the person and situation. With women especially. I think a hand on the shoulder or touch on the arm is comforting to patients. They feel the empathy from you. I've seen lots of nurses who come off as very cold and distant and I am Not that nurse!

I have never worried about someone thinking it meant more than that..but then I'm not the most politically correct kind of person. lol.

I am planning on going into L&D and will maintain the same position with my patients there. A kind word and a touch goes a long way as far as I'm concerned!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.
I tend to touch as much as possible depending on the person and situation. With women especially. I think a hand on the shoulder or touch on the arm is comforting to patients. They feel the empathy from you. I've seen lots of nurses who come off as very cold and distant and I am Not that nurse!

I have never worried about someone thinking it meant more than that..but then I'm not the most politically correct kind of person. lol.

I am planning on going into L&D and will maintain the same position with my patients there. A kind word and a touch goes a long way as far as I'm concerned!

As for being "that nurse" - if it is not in your nature to touch other people casually, then any attempts to do so come off as stiff and not genuine. It doesn't mean that I don't care, and I'll hold a hand when it occurs spontaneously, but I don't do the "casual arm" touch convincingly, so why go against nature? I've never had any complaints from patients because I didn't touch them enough!! ;)

Blee

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment