holistic practices bring what’s old, like body massage, back into the mainstream of nursing.
those who are old enough to remember the original version of “mission impossible” will also remember the days when the evening shift offered back rubs to every patient. it was part of the rhythm of the unit, part of taking care of the whole person....
till i left the hospital in 1991, part of 3-11pm routine was pm care and backrub...why did some nurses stop offering that???
Just the other day a family member came to me and said she gave the pt a back rub and forget the pain medication I was going to get b/c the pt was relaxed and pain free. It only takes a minute or two to get in a "rub". I can attest the benefits of massage for the orientated pt, but I wonder how it affects agitated/confused pts, is there really enough benefit to try massage for them instead of sedatives which leaves them asleep all day and then awake during night? I just know that on med/surge, time is a limited commodity, but I also know I spend so much time running for pain meds for backaches, headaches, etc., so much time answering call bells, I wonder if incorporating more hands on care would reduce the amt of time spent running from pt to pt. I guess most would argue not, but anyone have any personal stories for this question?
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
The basic back rub went the way of many "nice" things in nursing.
(things we should be doing---- versus sitting at a stupid computer, struggling with charting on an antiquated or difficult system, doing med scans, or unplugging someone's toilet at 4:30 a.m., or making a grumpy family member a cup of coffee at 2 a.m. in the name of "customer service"--I could go on and on, but you get the drift)------
Nursing is expected to cover so many other areas, that there is simply no time in most busy units today for "silly things" like back rubs. It's very sad, but very true.
I work from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. and we do our first assessment with vitals at 4 a.m. I follow the CNA from room to room and we work together so these folks don't get awakened twice. Showers can start this early so I also try to be in the room when the CNA brings back the patient and I usually am since I make the bed for the patient while they are gone. I can help the CNA with bedbaths too - yesterday I gave a backrub to a post-op patient while the CNA was doing a bedbath (well, it was a bedside commode bath really since she was trying to pee).
There can be alot of downtime at my hospital and then there are times when we just run all day. A backrub doesn't take that long - you can rub a person's back after assessing lungs and while assessing skin integrity.
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.
I never have time for a back rub for patients...and I also will not do back rubs until I am trained in it r/t manipulation of the muscles and spine that can cause more harm than good.
I once did a back massage on my hubby when his back hurt from lifting patients all day (paramedic...he says ALS means Always Lifting Something! LOL). And even though I used light/moderate rub along the muscle lines themselves...I caused a back spasm that really threw him for a loop! Sad for him because he loves back rubs and now I won't even go there!
If I could do back rubs, I would be a massuse doing them out of my home like my hubbys ex-wife! LOL! (per hour she makes twice what I do! And part of her house/property taxes are tax credit because it is a business!).....
I never have time for a back rub for patients...and I also will not do back rubs until I am trained in it r/t manipulation of the muscles and spine that can cause more harm than good.
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If I could do back rubs, I would be a massuse QUOTE]
If you look back a few posts, we were trained in backrubs in basic ADL care in the "old" days. In fact, we had to demonstrate proper technique on each other in lab as one of the checkoffs before being allowed near actual patients.
We occasionally do a quick shoulder rub for each other at the desk (Iwork ER), one of my docs keeps asking me why I don't do it full time! :rotfl: instead of nursing.
There are tapes/DVDs that teach technique, maybe investing in one for your hubby would help. (Hope he's feeling better)
Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.
Just the other day a family member came to me and said she gave the pt a back rub and forget the pain medication I was going to get b/c the pt was relaxed and pain free. It only takes a minute or two to get in a "rub". I can attest the benefits of massage for the orientated pt, but I wonder how it affects agitated/confused pts, is there really enough benefit to try massage for them instead of sedatives which leaves them asleep all day and then awake during night? I just know that on med/surge, time is a limited commodity, but I also know I spend so much time running for pain meds for backaches, headaches, etc., so much time answering call bells, I wonder if incorporating more hands on care would reduce the amt of time spent running from pt to pt. I guess most would argue not, but anyone have any personal stories for this question?
I work in a locked Alzheimer's unit, and I can say with authority, yes, yes, yes, a back or hand massage can alleviate agitation. It calms them, soothes them, and distracts them. Doesn't always work for everybody, but it's worth giving it a try.
We were taught back rubs in clinicals last week. We were basically told, use it when you can. It's certainly not an every-night sort of deal, but I think it's a nice thing to do if you've got the time.
Am I the only one here who has never given a back rub?
I understand why you never have, it is just too difficult to find that kind of time as a RN. It is easier for nursing assistants, we can just add it to a bath or bedtime care.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I agree there should be time for backrubs. They are wonderful for both patient and nurse. But I do have to say oftentimes there just is no time. While I am trying to assess a patient in room 15, another in room 3 needs pain meds, and the one in 4 is bleeding, and then there is the one in 6 who can't get her baby to latch. All this while trying to chart, can be a impossible.
Not to mention numerous visitors in the room, getting very comfy, and spreading out all over it. I can hardly step over them some shifts, let alone assess mom and baby.
I am glad when I have labor patients; there is generally MUCH more time for this as we are generally 1:1 or 1:2. But if I am the PP or GYN nurse, rofl, forget it, most shifts.
I wish. I suggested some of our CNA's offer back rubs one evening a few weeks ago. Since everyone seemed to be caught up and sitting around the nurses station talking, and it seriously got laughs. I was totally serious, if they had time to sit and talk,, they had time to rub a little lotion on someone's back to help them relax and sleep better. But i guess that was just asking to much.
Hi. I'm a hospital CNA and BSN student. I haven't read through this entire post yet, so forgive me if I repeat someone. I also do not understand why this isn't being done. Personally, the facility/ies I have worked for do not "mandate" it; however, I always incorporate the back rub into the HS care that I give - immediately after his/her bed bath or shower. It really isn't that time consuming and I cannot begin to describe the benefits!:flowersfo :loveya: :icon_hug:
I do remember those days and until now forgot all about them. I never liked doing them, it made me uncomfortable and with the way some people perceive things now-a-days I would definately be even more uncomfortable and vice versa I would not want a back rub by a stranger, although be it a nurse. Just me I guess, but that's how I feel. I can't imagine our night shift nurses having time to give back rubs.
I did always give back rubs to my private duty patients even as short as 3 years ago. They were not strangers to me and I didn't feel the least strange about it.
beannie
21 Posts
Just the other day a family member came to me and said she gave the pt a back rub and forget the pain medication I was going to get b/c the pt was relaxed and pain free. It only takes a minute or two to get in a "rub". I can attest the benefits of massage for the orientated pt, but I wonder how it affects agitated/confused pts, is there really enough benefit to try massage for them instead of sedatives which leaves them asleep all day and then awake during night? I just know that on med/surge, time is a limited commodity, but I also know I spend so much time running for pain meds for backaches, headaches, etc., so much time answering call bells, I wonder if incorporating more hands on care would reduce the amt of time spent running from pt to pt. I guess most would argue not, but anyone have any personal stories for this question?