Medical-Surgical Nursing:Assessment and Managementof Clinical Problems 9th Edition by Sharon Lewis,Shannon Ruff Dirksen,Margaret McLean Heitkemper,Linda Bucher

Exercise 19

Priority Decision: A bedridden patient tells the nurse she has low back pain and asks if the area could be massaged.What is the best action by the nurse?
A) Ask the patient if she has ever tried acupuncture for back pain.
B) Explain to the patient that massage may be done only by a licensed therapist and offer a PRN analgesic instead.
C) Comfortably position the patient to expose the area and massage the back with effleurage and petrissage strokes.
D) Call the physical therapy department to request that a physical therapist see the patient to provide a therapeutic massage.