Please help on this one do one really need an order for application of warmth?

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Ok so I'm a home health nurse and my job requires me to do a lots of teachings,I'm also sorta new to nursing profession (I graduated on May 2009 and never worked the acute floor) and I do a lot of pain management teaching,today my supervisor informed me that an MD order is needed for warm compressess,really>

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In my hospital, we don't need an order for a warm blanket, but any sustained warmth (ie a heating pad) must have an order.

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Specializes in NICU, ER, OR.

YES, it does. its a treatment. warmth dilates the blood vessels in the area... certain conditions might contraindiate that.

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Yes, as the others said, we must have an order for warm compresses.

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I think it may depend on why you are applying it. But better to have an order than not.

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Specializes in Developmental Disabilites,.

We also need an order for cold.

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Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

Hot or cold, we need an order. Either treatment has the potential for risk if the patient has decreased sensation and can't feel excess heat or cold. That sort of thing. In my facility only therapy can do heat (great imo, one less thing when you have 20+ patients.)

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

order needed in our hospital due to risk of burn (hot or cold) or other injury.

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