Patients wants a back rub

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2015

Now the last time I was in the hospital I was told I wasn't allowed to shower and was given no other alternative for bathing and had a note left on my bedside tablet explaining that they don't change sheets except when visibly soiled because "the environment" and no one even straightened the ones I had at any point.

:eek: I wonder what Florence would think? Nah, you don't need fresh linens. And shame on you for prioritizing your comfort over "the environment." I know it would affect my satisfaction survey answers.

CocoaLoverFNP · Jul 21, 2015

I would be really honest and will say that I do not like giving back rubs. It also gives me that -icky feeling....

This conversation reminded me of my former manager. She made a comment that the nurses nowadays love to use gloves during any type of patient care WHILE when she was a bedside nurse 20-some years ago, they didn't wear gloves even when changing diapers. I am sorry to hear that times have changed. But I can't even imagine not wearing gloves when changing diapers.

So therefore, when a patient asks for a back rub, I will do it but will wear gloves (relieves my anxiety about that -icky feeing). Also, I will only do it for 3 to 5 minutes. Longer than that, I will have to give them the number of the professional massage therapist they can call for extra charge. They come to the hospital and provide private massages for an hour.

I just want to say how nurses that like to give back rubs are amazing!!!! You are all great nurses!

AllieSparksRN · Jul 21, 2015

For those nurses who do give patients backrubs: do you wear gloves or don't you? I'm curious...

My facility has a lotion we use too - that helps.

AllieSparksRN · Jul 21, 2015

I had a pt who we were trying desperately to start an IV on, we had stuck her like 10 times. Finally, she said enough is enough and refused anymore sticks. I really couldn't blame her, anyway, she asked me if I would please rub her back. She had chronic back pain d/t degenerative changes.
My first reaction was uhhh no way no how. Then I thought about how many times we had stuck her unsuccessfully, so I relented and rubbed her back for a few minutes. She was very appreciative and thanked me profusely.
Thirty minutes after I rubbed her back she coded and died. NSTEMI! I was so glad I had rubbed her back.

If & when you write a book about your nursing life - please include that story :) .

CocoaLoverFNP · Jul 21, 2015

There are times at work when a patient will grab my hand and hold it, or a coworker might rub my back or pat it to be friendly. When I have that human connection I instantly relax and feel better. It's such a basic human thing. For that reason, I try to incorporate therapeutic touch with my patients as often as possible when appropriate.

Yes, you are right, human touch is not for everyone. I sure hope patients/coworkers will not just hold my hand without my consent. When it happened once in the past, the patient startled me and literally gave me anxiety. Maybe because I knew that the patient had a hx of harassing women. Since then, I've been paranoid about getting touched or touching others at work. Every time a patient tries to hug or kiss me without my consent (this happens usually during discharge), it definitely does not relax me. I can hug you but i definitely will refuse kissing. I know some nurses that are willing to do all these (but really gives me that -icky feeling). These nurses are amazing! They should be awarded :)

I guess everyone is different when it comes to human touch. I respect my personal space too much and I wish patients would also respect my personal space.

CocoaLoverFNP · Jul 21, 2015

However, I really stiffen up if someone touches me and I would not like it if a colleague were holding my hand. I had a coworker who liked to hold hands and stroke my arms. Major stress; I had to nip that in the bud. If a patient needed to hold my hand, that's fine.

I get anxious and stiffen up too! However, if a patient wants to hold my hand, i hope she/he asks for my permission beforehand.

I'm glad to know I am not alone ;-)

chopwood carrywater · Jul 21, 2015

But how are you with the trucker in room 212?

Sure. All 18 wheels...

OCNRN63, RN · Jul 21, 2015

I had a pt who we were trying desperately to start an IV on, we had stuck her like 10 times. Finally, she said enough is enough and refused anymore sticks. I really couldn't blame her, anyway, she asked me if I would please rub her back. She had chronic back pain d/t degenerative changes.
My first reaction was uhhh no way no how. Then I thought about how many times we had stuck her unsuccessfully, so I relented and rubbed her back for a few minutes. She was very appreciative and thanked me profusely.
Thirty minutes after I rubbed her back she coded and died. NSTEMI! I was so glad I had rubbed her back.

Wow! I'm glad you were able to do that for her.

OCNRN63, RN · Jul 21, 2015

I would be really honest and will say that I do not like giving back rubs. It also gives me that -icky feeling....
This conversation reminded me of my former manager. She made a comment that the nurses nowadays love to use gloves during any type of patient care WHILE when she was a bedside nurse 20-some years ago, they didn't wear gloves even when changing diapers. I am sorry to hear that times have changed. But I can't even imagine not wearing gloves when changing diapers.
So therefore, when a patient asks for a back rub, I will do it but will wear gloves (relieves my anxiety about that -icky feeing). Also, I will only do it for 3 to 5 minutes. Longer than that, I will have to give them the number of the professional massage therapist they can call for extra charge. They come to the hospital and provide private massages for an hour.
I just want to say how nurses that like to give back rubs are amazing!!!! You are all great nurses!

I guess as an NP, this issue is moot for you. I doubt you'd be pressed to do a lot of back rubs.

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2015

Touching strangers (and being touched by strangers) makes me uncomfortable, too. I don't even touch my best friends, really - I just talk to them. I can touch hands, sure, and squeeze a shoulder for comfort, but rubbing my hands all over someone else's body for the purpose of bringing pleasurable sensations is just way too intimate for me. I regularly rub lotion on people but not in a massage sort of way.

I will massage patients if they ask for it, but they have to ask - I'm not going to offer out of the blue.

Farawyn · Jul 21, 2015

Touching strangers (and being touched by strangers) makes me uncomfortable, too. I don't even touch my best friends, really - I just talk to them. I can touch hands, sure, and squeeze a shoulder for comfort, but rubbing my hands all over someone else's body for the purpose of bringing pleasurable sensations is just way too intimate for me. I regularly rub lotion on people but not in a massage sort of way.
I will massage patients if they ask for it, but they have to ask - I'm not going to offer out of the blue.

Rubbing lotion on someone's body to provide skin care and comfort IS massage. A "massage sort of way" made me go rut roh.

What do you think we're doing? :blink:

(ETA: I don't know why there is an R on my post, but I can't get rid of it.)

R

calivianya, BSN, RN · Jul 21, 2015

Rubbing lotion on someone's body to provide skin care and comfort IS massage. A "massage sort of way" made me go rut roh.
What do you think we're doing?
(ETA: I don't know why there is an R on my post, but I can't get rid of it.)
R

LOL!

I just mean that I rub it on quickly and for absolutely no longer than necessary, and I don't take time to do slow movements with pressure. That's what I think of when I think about massage - really working the knots out and relieving muscle tension, not just rubbing on some lotion.

I only take real time to massage the lotion in deeply and carefully when my patients are vented and sedated, so they don't know I'm doing it. I'm totally fine with giving massages to unconscious people. It's the ones who are looking at me while I'm doing it that make me feel weird.

Psst... is anyone else thinking "It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again" right now, or is it just me?