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???
When I worked on te floor, all the CNA's had to offer the pts. backrubs. I'd heat the lotion up for about 10 sec. in the microwave so I wasen't rubbing cold goo all over their back. I didn't always have time to get to everyone so I made a priority list (bedridden pts up to ambulatory). I always felt kind of embarassed to ask "want a back rub?" and then quickly "It improves circulation an prevents bedsores and will help you fall asleep." :chuckle (I guess just for the guys...) Plus l liked it because my hands were always dry from all that handwashing and rubbing all those backs made my hands soft too.
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:
Plus it's not like you have to do it for a long time or do a body massage (some pts. have requested it....) just a few minutes and then I throw some small chit chat in there to make it through my awkwardness...
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.
I'm glad somebody said it.
This is one nursing task I have never been interested in. Regardless of the alleged benefits, it seems too intimate to me.
Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
I was in the hospital 33 weeks' pg w/my son, premature rupture of membranes.....after about a week in bed (conservative management of my PROM), my back HURT (you know those hard labor beds) and a really sweet nurse came in and asked me if I wanted a back rub. I was desperately uncomfortable, said yes. OMG did that make ALLLL the difference. It really meant so much.
I give rubs to moms and some of our rather elderly GYN in pain, when they are need more than just percoset, and I have time. For some it's great ,others will refuse for whatever reason ....but I think it would be nice if EVERY patient were offered and received one if she/he chose.
Specializes in Education, Acute, Med/Surg, Tele, etc.
In response to another poster...I never did learn back massage in school, was told the benifits but never instructed. A video would be good, proably plenty of those or books if I so wish...I just never want to cause that pain I did by simply rubbing a muscle (and not hard either...poor overly sensitive and used muscle in that back there for hubby...that muscle just couldn't take any more I expect).
But hand/arm massage was brought up too...now that I even enjoy! My mother would massage my hands and arms to help me with migraines! Works!
Now, I have done that for patients, or even feet massages (quick one when I have to lotion patients or sometimes during my assessments), and scalp massage (oh prrrrrrr...I love scalp massages!).
Just wish we could get some decent lotions besides the cheep stuff they have at my hosptials LOL (if we are lucky, we get nicer lotions/oil from labor/delivery...).
Also, if your patient can afford this, or if your facility has this...I use to send my patients down to our salon! We had one :). The rates were great actually (just for patients of that hospital) and they could get a facial with massage and scalp massage...and pedicures. PRRRRRRRR! My clients felt soooooooooo good afterwards and glowed/looked great for their family/friends!
I do vag exams too. It seems more clinical. Weird huh?
steph
Really, this does not seem so weird.
I was trying to figure why back rubs are not a problem to me, though, and I quess it is because I do them quickly, as part of other care, in a very matter of fact way. I always wear my gloves ( need lotion) too. Hmmm, I would back off if they seemed to enjoy it too much!
maybe it is because as an NA I give baths alot. It is funny how you learn to, let say, note skin changes and signs of problems, yet not really look at the patient.
We just learned bed baths in my nursing skills lab today, and the instructor said that "a bed bath isn't complete without a backrub." I'm wonder how this fits into hospital nursing these days.
Also, we were shown to use long strokes starting at bottom of the the buttocks, because they are part of the back. Since we just practiced on the mannequins it wasn't too weird, but is this something commonly done with patients?
I have never given a back rub before (only rubbed a few pt's legs/arms with lotion) but something about a back rub weirds me out. It DOES seem very intimate to me and I would feel very uncomfortable giving a back rub to a man. Maybe if it is worded a different way when we ask the patient if they want one? "I'm going to apply pressure to your back to increase your circulation and prevent bed sores" haha
We were briefly taught in 1st semester how to give back rubs when patients are on their stomachs, but what if they can't turnover into that position? What do you do then? :)
This is one nursing task I have never been interested in. Regardless of the alleged benefits, it seems too intimate to me.
You're brave...I was trying to find a nice way to say the same thing. I will hold someone's hand no problem and I love to talk with my patients but back rubs? Eh, I agree in todays climate, too much could be misunderstood.Much of this is my own feelings on back rubs-it's one of the quickest ways to "get me in the mood" (sorry, if that's TMI) so that's the last thing I want to be offering the patients!
Keely-FutureRN
285 Posts
When I worked on te floor, all the CNA's had to offer the pts. backrubs. I'd heat the lotion up for about 10 sec. in the microwave so I wasen't rubbing cold goo all over their back. I didn't always have time to get to everyone so I made a priority list (bedridden pts up to ambulatory). I always felt kind of embarassed to ask "want a back rub?" and then quickly "It improves circulation an prevents bedsores and will help you fall asleep." :chuckle (I guess just for the guys...) Plus l liked it because my hands were always dry from all that handwashing and rubbing all those backs made my hands soft too.
Keely