Patients wants a back rub

Nurses Relations

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How did the bedtime back rub come to be associated with nurses? MANY years ago I was doing agency staffing. I got called in to a very fancy private hospital to do a shift. One of my assigned patients rang the call bell. When I went into the room she wanted her "bedtime back rub." Being young and eager to please I gave her a back rub, but the whole thing felt really icky to me. Was there a time when nurses were night time massage people?

Specializes in my patients.
... I don't wear gloves. Of course I do wash with soap and water after. Should I be gloved?

I don't know...which is why I asked...just to see what others do. (Obviously, in some circumstances, you of course would, but I just wondered in general.)

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Specializes in Cardiac/Tele.

I am an aide and I work a mini back rub into every bed bath. (Gloved!) Scrub a little bit more with the hot wash cloth, rub some lotion in for a few extra seconds, and even that teeny tiny little bit of effort almost universally elicits a, "That feels so nice, my back is so sore." It takes 2.7 of my seconds, and I've made them happy.

That said, I'm a touchy person; I'll hug anything that moves. ;-) If I weren't, I could easily understand feeling a bit sketchy about rubbing backs. And I don't think there's anything wrong with you if you just don't feel comfortable doing it, personal preference. But touch is so therapeutic.

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My issue is the concept of a bedtime back rub for no reason. Others have given great examples of using touch and massages in specific circumstances. Touch to relieve pain is cool. Touch to "pamper" or pleasure someone not in pain is gross to me.

As several posters have noted, it's not "for no reason." It's a useful tool for skin assessment, for improving circulation to skin and reducing the risk of pressure ulcers, for nonpharmacologic pain reduction, and for promoting relaxation and improved sleep.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
As several posters have noted, it's not "for no reason." It's a useful tool for skin assessment, for improving circulation to skin and reducing the risk of pressure ulcers, for nonpharmacologic pain reduction, and for promoting relaxation and improved sleep.

I think that's fine so long as nurses know how it's actually being received by some patients, specifically that's not unusual for some patients to see it as essentially be serviced sexually. And while it can be argued that it provides nonpharmacologic pain reduction, promoting relaxation and improved sleep, providing an HS HJ would also have the same effects. And actually you could argue that's even more beneficial than a backrub since it causes a release of higher levels of therapeutic endorphins.

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I think that's fine so long as nurses know how it's actually being received by some patients, specifically that's not unusual for some patients to see it as essentially be serviced sexually. And while it can be argued that it provides nonpharmacologic pain reduction, promoting relaxation and improved sleep, providing an HS HJ would also have the same effects. And actually you could argue that's even more beneficial than a backrub since it causes a release of higher levels of therapeutic endorphins.

Tell us more about this. Did you offer the HSHJ often?

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I don't think I have said sexual. I did say it has gender connotations. Then someone said it doesn't have gender connotations because they know people who want massage from someone of the opposite gender. Hello! That is a gender connotation-- the issue doesn't need to be same sex.

yeah, I did know nursing involves touching people. Worked for years at a STD clinic and have frozen tons of condylomata on the genitals of men and women. My issue is the concept of a bedtime back rub for no reason. Others have given great examples of using touch and massages in specific circumstances. Touch to relieve pain is cool. Touch to "pamper" or pleasure someone not in pain is gross to me.

But there are reasons, as have been explained ad infinitum. I think you're the one who is sexualizing something that has been proven to be therapeutic.

I have done plenty of back rubs over the years, and it was never a cheap sexual thing. To be honest, I'm a bit angry that you're taking something that has proven benefits for patients and turned it into something sleazy.

And why are you brining this up if it happened "MANY" years ago? You don't have to do them in your current job, right? So then what's the big deal?

I could see someone who has to deal with this brining this up. But if this is something that isn't even in your rearview mirror, then...I don't know what to say.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I think that's fine so long as nurses know how it's actually being received by some patients, specifically that's not unusual for some patients to see it as essentially be serviced sexually. And while it can be argued that it provides nonpharmacologic pain reduction, promoting relaxation and improved sleep, providing an HS HJ would also have the same effects. And actually you could argue that's even more beneficial than a backrub since it causes a release of higher levels of therapeutic endorphins.

OMG. I am getting out of this discussion now.

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OMG. I am getting out of this discussion now.

I think he's pulling our legs. Or something.

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Specializes in Infection Prevention, Public Health.

To OCNRN63, I think I am allowed to make a post without clearing it with you first. It would be as if I were to tell a retired nurse that he/she has no right to post on certain subjects; but that would be wrong wouldn't it? Gosh, if you disagree with my opinion, that's ok, but please don't question whether you think I am deserving to have an opinion.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
I think I am allowed to make a post without clearing it with you first. It would be as if I were to tell a retired nurse that he/she has no right to post on certain subjects; but that would be wrong wouldn't it?

I never said you had to clear it with me. And sorry, pal, but you just played your hand with your last comment.

Feel free to continue discussions along the same vein.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, NICU.

I think, given the litigious nature of healthcare and the sheer amount of work nurses are expected to do, bedtime back rubs will be considered a thing in the past.

And at the risk of sounding cold, but I had a patient who demanded a foot massage and I was kind of insulted, especially after I told her I needed to do a few things with my other patients. To me, offering a massage would just feed into the already prominent hotel/spa mentality that patients have about hospitals.

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I think I am allowed to make a post without clearing it with you first. It would be as if I were to tell a retired nurse that he/she has no right to post on certain subjects; but that would be wrong wouldn't it?

No one said you couldn't post. Some of us have said we disagree with your opinion.

It's not a touchy subject.

Oh...wait. *facepalm*

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