Is it illegal to place a towel over a patient's face?

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Protect from spitting, is it illegal to place a towel over a patient face to protect from spit

I've had fantasies of covering a patient's face with a pillow, but never a towel!

And I'm joking, JOKING about the fantasy. Mostly.

Yes, I think someone referred to it as "pillow therapy".

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I have seen a police officer use a pillow with a decent amount of pressure.

Turns out the patient was not out of control, and had a distinct preference for breathing over spitting.

You could probably lightly drape a towel over the face pretty safely. But they would still make noise. That pillow thing worked great.

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Specializes in PCCN.
Some people can't help but spit when they talk. :p

"Say it, don't spray it .I want to hear the news, not the weather"

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

sorry, lol

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Specializes in Family Medicine.

This thread's cracking me up.

To answer your question, I don't think it's "illegal" per se but it's definitely not right. I'd probably wear a face shield around this patient and stand back as much as possible.

Can you provide a image so I can better visualize how you're going to place the towel over the patient's face?

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I don't really have anything of value to add to this thread, I just had to let my avitar jump in and be seen - this is what he's been waiting for all these years!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

Ive worked around spitters! The nurse giving meds had to put on a face shield and mask. Yet, the pt still managed to spit into the nurses bra!!

#goodtimes Noc shift

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Yeah...unless you are planning on treating your patient to a hot towel facial I would just stick to the shield or mask.

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This is to funny, y'all crack me up, thankfully I've yet to endure this type of situation, but grateful I'm now aware of how to handle the situation which I'm sure will arise..."pillow ther...um I mean a surgical mask, thanks I'll keep one handy at all times.

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I don't understand why you named this thread "RN." It would be nice if you address the subject of the thread in the title.
The thread's title has been changed to one that is more reflective of the OP's question. Keep calm and carry on. :)
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Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Is it ethical? Do you really feel that it's right to do this?

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

What about putting a mask on a patient who is spitting?

I never thought about if this is right or wrong. Saw it once with a confused, violent, restrained patient. Staff had put a simple mask on the patient because they were spitting at everyone.

A towel doesn't seem right, because I assume the towel covers the patients face and obscures their vision, which I think is cruel. A mask seems simple and efficient. But could that be iffy also? Hmmm.

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Specializes in Hospice.

I think that we need to be wicked careful around anyone's airway. I think staff wearing face shields is the safest option for the patient.

But if you need to control spitting outside of a hospital precaution room (or a dentist's office), a towel or empty pillowcase may be the only available barrier. I think the person who decides to toss the towel better stick around and monitor the airway or much badness could ensue.

Paych and ED nurses, along with first responders like cops and EMS, have to deal with this a lot. How do you guys handle it?

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