Bringing Massage Therapy Back into Nursing

I am a RN student, finishing in May. One of the clinical directors in our school is a licensed massage therapist and preaches the wonders of massage. Two weeks ago, I had a patient dying of esophageal cancer and she was alone for the two days I was assigned to her, no family or friends. She was reportedly a difficult patient, not allowing standard care. Not long after I received her for the day, she complained of a headache (which rapidly became severe), and pharmacy had not sent up the meds prescribed, so I asked if I could rub her back. At first she mouthed, "NO" but I asked her how long had it been since someone rubbed her back and she started crying. I massaged her back (in my own inept way) for the 10 minutes it took for the meds to come up to the floor and take effect. During the massage she told me her pain was much better and she continued to cry softly throughout those 10 minutes. After that this notorius "bad" patient become passive and when I left that afternoon, she was clean, calm and sleeping. I have incorporated massage into my nursing whenever it is appropriate; I am sold on this wonderful technique of care.

Thank You!

The basics of nursing care are my favorite tasks. I love to give bed-baths and massages. I don't often have time, but when I do, the pts really enjoy it and it's very rewarding for me, as well.

Thank you. I read this the other day and very next day helped a classmate with her pt who was in end stages of cancer. After a bedbath I gave him a back and neck rub. He siad it helped immensely and nobody ever did that for him before. It provided him with a great amt of relief from the pain of bone cancer and allowed him to doze off to sleep. I was told he passed quietly same night.

Great article and I wholly agree. I've been an RN x 24 years and just finished a year of Massage Therapy school (500 hours). I see this as a real enhancement to my nursing skills and intend to integrate it into my nursing practice.Fibril_late

HI I FEEL THAT ONLY THE LICENSE MASSEUS SHOULD BE THE ONLY ONES TO GIVE A MASSAGE AND NOT THE NURSES BECUZ THE NURSES DO TOO MUCH.I AGREE WITH A MASSAGE MY A MASSEUS ONLY BUT NOT BY ANY NURSES.

Ginagina...The article does say to be a registered nurse massage therapist you need the 500 hour curriculum...patients thrive and heal with touch..and compassion is what we are known for and a basic instinct of our job. Nobody is asking you to go above and beyond your job description but it is nice to provide basic comforts to our patients in a scary environment. We seem to forget we are used to being there they are not. Thank you to all the nurses who provide my child or my grandmother with just a little time spent at the bedside listening and comforting. I can only think of the picture of Florence Nightingale touching a soldiers arm in comfort. Simply you can incorporate smaller version of massage or touch therapy into your care, it's too bad you "don't have the time" because I seem to find lots of time after all they are paying me to do "patient care".

Gosh, ever looked into massage therapy school? 500 hours could cost you as much as it takes to get your RN at a Community College! I give massage to my fellow coworkers. It is the great stress reliever. Trouble is, rarely is it reciprocated!

Gina GinaWhile I am not a licensed Masseuse the patient dying of cancer did not seem to care, and sweetie that is all that matters.

FYI, we are not masseuses, we are massage therapists or practitioners. I am a licensed massage therapist pursuing a BSN/RN. Specializing in pain relief due to injury and/or stress, it is my perception that nurse massage therapists receive referrals from docs more frequently than massage therapists w/o a medical background. It is unfortunate that as nurses, there is no time to provide massage therapy to patients, however, many hospitals are now providing optional massage therapy services which the patient must pay for. However, you must be an RN to do it. Nurses are everywhere! Nice to have so many options.

i strongly agree on a massage thearpist, i would love to make an elderly person feel good, even though they are old.SO WHAT!!! they deserve to be pain free, and feel good. i wish i could do that for them....

Sorry Trinh, I did not mean to insult you. Actually I was being a bit sarcastic because someone wrote an email being very negative about RN's giving massages to patients and she had used (or attempted) to use the word "Masseusses" and had spelt it wrong. I did not want to be too nasty in my answer so I spelt the word correctly and made a comment after it. I am very aware that that title is an inappropriate description of the skill and education that is put into this wonderful craft. I guess I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Sorry