Massages From Nurses.

[SanFranciscan]

I heard a conversation between two R.N.'s, a new graduate and one who just retired. The older one was saying that all of the patients used to get massages from their nurses before bed. This surprised me because I didn't think that nurses would have time for this since so much of their time is spent just trying to keep their patients clean and alive. The younger nurse said that nurses were not supposed to massage patients because legally massage work was supposed to be done by certified massage therapists.

While I don't want hospitals to start treating nurses like spa workers in a hotel instead of health care workers, is the young nurse right that nurses who aren't massage therapists would be in violation of the law? Maybe they just want to help a nervous patient, who just wants attention, to relax and stop ringing the buzzer.

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

I've been a nurse for 20 years and have never given a patient a massage. I think this came in a time when nurses didn't do as much in the grand scheme of things as they do now. Or may be when hospital floors were better staffed.

Sorry but I have to chuckle, massages...seriously! I know for some patients it would be a welcome comfort, but most nurses can't find the time to give the basic care they need to give to theirpatients during their shift time, much less give extras like massages.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

I agree with the above poster. I have had 7 surgeries this past year and have been in everything from ICU to day surgery. I cant tell you how overworked the nurses are. I dont know where they would ever find time to do a masage. The only thing I got that would remotely resemble that was just some hard pounding on my chest because they thought I might be starting to get pneumonia and they only did that before the respiratory therapist came. And a big shout out and Thank You to all the nurses out there!!

 

[chloelovesdisney]

When I started my first nursing job in 1997, we were supposed to do pm care for each of our patients which included a short shoulder massage. They all liked it! I only stayed in that hospital and unit for 1 year and then moved. They don't do it at my current hospital, but I think it was nice.

 

[MizTink]

i've heard of this before....
i worked as a cna a few years ago and i used to give the older patients a quick massage after their bath/shower while i put lotion on them. i remember one older lady saying that she remembered when the nurse would give her patient a good "back rub" before going to sleep.
most people didn't spend that much time with their patients either though. at least they don't now. maybe this was one of the reasons i was so well liked....

 

[Tink888]

When DS12 was born, the maternity ward wasn't very busy and one night the nurse came in and asked if I wanted a massage. It was just a short five minute shoulder massage but it was sooooo nice. I was surprised she offered to do that but again, really, really nice and much appreciated.

Now when DS14 was born, the ward was filled with moms and babies.....extremely busy and the nurses didn't offer then. Obviously they were too busy taking care everyone's needs and there just wasn't time for any extras.

Maybe it's just a little extra that isn't mandatory but that nurses can offer to patients when time permits.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Traditional "PM care" was to assist the pt to empty their bladder, help the patient wash their hands and face, brush their teeth or dentures, put them into a clean gown for sleep, and provide a shoulder and back rub. Sometimes you would even do a complete linen change if the patient was on bedrest.
We were still taught this when I went to school, and expected to do it too!

It is still in an nurses scope of practice to provide massage as a technique for pain control, relaxation, and to promote venous return.

 

[golfgal]

Way back when nurses didn't have as many patients to care for and medical technology wasn't as advanced so there wasn't quite as much to do-treatments, etc. nor were nurses expected to do as much as they are now. I can see where they would have done this several years ago but typically one nurse only had a couple patients to care for too. When my mom first started out as a nurse she only had one patient at a time and on RARE occasions would MAYBE have 2.

 

[sparklynails23]

I wonder if it helped prevent bed sores.

 

[Judy from Boise]

Oh absolutely it helped. I went to school at LA County/USC Medical center, and since it was a diploma program we learned the cadillac version of pt care, however we were expected to care for 6-8 pts! What made it doable was the ward system,as all of those pts were in one big room. Boy do I miss wards. You could be so organized and efficient, no one fell, and you could give great care.

 

[jaminmd]

Nurses are the ones who need the massages. Seriously! Americans aren't getting any lighter and I'm not getting any younger.

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Oh absolutely it helped. I went to school at LA County/USC Medical center, and since it was a diploma program we learned the cadillac version of pt care, however we were expected to care for 6-8 pts! What made it doable was the ward system,as all of those pts were in one big room. Boy do I miss wards. You could be so organized and efficient, no one fell, and you could give great care.

ITA. I would take an old school diploma prepared nurse over today's BSN any day. A big part of the old fashioned care is lost now, and nursing is much more than medications, documentation and technical care.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

ITA. I would take an old school diploma prepared nurse over today's BSN any day.

This is a completely offensive statement, but you are entitled to your opinion.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I do back rubs/massages/Reiki if the situation warrants it. Typically the patient I try to do this with is someone who's spent a long day on a hard procedure table and their back is killing them, or maybe they suffer from chronic back pain and are having a rough time emotionally and I a) have the time and b) think it would help them relax. I am fortunate that I work in a hospital that is generally fairly well staffed so I can take the time to do it.

OTOH, I had to support a nurse this week who had a patient's husband following her around the room telling her "you look so nice tonight" and making other suggestive overtures. Getting that type of vibe is only going to drive care givers away. Unfortunately, it's not too uncommon.

 

[Mandychelle79]

The nurses on the floor I work on give massages to patients as time allows. as do some of the aides. I use them a lot to help calm someone when they are upset, its an amazing distraction ( i work with a lot of dementia patients ). Heck some of the patients return a back rub when they are able to

Last week I was helping a patient with something when she suddenly started to scratch my back. It was a surprise but was what I needed to get through the rest of the shift.

 

[Judy from Boise]

ITA. I would take an old school diploma prepared nurse over today's BSN any day. A big part of the old fashioned care is lost now, and nursing is much more than medications, documentation and technical care.

My LA county(which BTW is the hospital you see during the opening of the General Hospital soap) diploma fills me with pride. Their graduates have a well earned fabulous reputation. I went on to earn a BSN, and MSN, but my diploma made me the nurse I am.

 

[npmommie]

ITA. I would take an old school diploma prepared nurse over today's BSN any day. A big part of the old fashioned care is lost now, and nursing is much more than medications, documentation and technical care.

Yes, as an RN who worked in a hospital that was pretty well staffed,even being on a busy cardiac tele floor, I did massages with my patients when I worked 3-11. I didn't always have time every shift, but most evenings I had time to pop in for a quick shoulder rub,sometimes legs and feet too
some of us BSN/MSN nurses still do some "old school" things

 

[npmommie]

My LA county(which BTW is the hospital you see during the opening of the General Hospital soap) diploma fills me with pride. Their graduates have a well earned fabulous reputation. I went on to earn a BSN, and MSN, but my diploma made me the nurse I am.

and my BSN made me the nurse I am today
I think we all have an education background to be proud of

 

[minkydog]

I heard a conversation between two R.N.'s, a new graduate and one who just retired. The older one was saying that all of the patients used to get massages from their nurses before bed. This surprised me because I didn't think that nurses would have time for this since so much of their time is spent just trying to keep their patients clean and alive. The younger nurse said that nurses were not supposed to massage patients because legally massage work was supposed to be done by certified massage therapists.

While I don't want hospitals to start treating nurses like spa workers in a hotel instead of health care workers, is the young nurse right that nurses who aren't massage therapists would be in violation of the law? Maybe they just want to help a nervous patient, who just wants attention, to relax and stop ringing the buzzer.

It's true, nurses used to give massages to patients. It was part of the evening/bedtime care. When I went to nursing school massages were taken very seriously--we had to do them on each other, for a grade no less! When I had my very first hospitalization, back in 1985, I had a dear nurse who came in every evening and helped me bathe, change into a clean gown, straightened up my bed, and then gave me a nice 10 minute massage to help me relax and go to sleep without drugs.

I doubt that today, with the increase in patient acuity(how much sicker they are now) that nurses would have time to give anyone a massage. Nursing is soooo much more involved now than it was when I graduated in 1977. But imagine if nurses DID give massages instead of sleeping pills. Wouldn't that be lovely!

 

[Nancyg56]

It's true, nurses used to give massages to patients. It was part of the evening/bedtime care. When I went to nursing school massages were taken very seriously--we had to do them on each other, for a grade no less! When I had my very first hospitalization, back in 1985, I had a dear nurse who came in every evening and helped me bathe, change into a clean gown, straightened up my bed, and then gave me a nice 10 minute massage to help me relax and go to sleep without drugs.

I doubt that today, with the increase in patient acuity(how much sicker they are now) that nurses would have time to give anyone a massage. Nursing is soooo much more involved now than it was when I graduated in 1977. But imagine if nurses DID give massages instead of sleeping pills. Wouldn't that be lovely!

I am giving my age away as well but I do remember when my sister went to nursing school she learned how to give evening massages to her patients. I think I got one when my first child was born (a long time ago). I know that she would never have the time to do that now. I do agree that it would be very nice to have that massage at night rather than a sleeping pill.