5.17 Skills Checklist: Back Rub

  1. Gather Supplies: Gloves and lotion
  2. Routine Pre-Procedure Steps:
    • Knock on the resident’s door.
    • Perform hand hygiene.
    • Maintain respectful, courteous, and professional communication at all times.
    • Introduce yourself and identify the resident.
    • Provide for privacy.
    • Explain the procedure to the resident.
  3. Procedure Steps:
    • Put on gloves.
    • Raise the side rail on one side of the bed.
    • Move to the opposite side of the bed and assist the resident to roll towards the raised side rail.
    • Only expose the resident’s back from the shoulders to the top of the hips.
    • Place a quarter-sized circle of lotion on one palm.
    • Rub the hands together to warm the lotion.
    • Begin with long, gentle strokes starting at the top of hips and moving to the top of the shoulders. Repeat about five times.
    • Throughout the back rub, ask the resident if there is any pain or discomfort. If pain is present, stop the procedure and report it to the nurse.
    • Apply more lotion to gloved hands as needed to reduce friction on the resident’s skin.
    • Make large circles with both hands from the top of hips to the top of shoulders. Repeat about five times.
    • Apply additional lotion to gloved hands as needed to reduce friction on resident’s skin.
    • Make small circles with both hands from the top of the hips to the top of the shoulders. Repeat about five times.
    • Apply additional lotion to gloved hands if needed to reduce friction on resident skin.
    • End with long, gentle strokes starting at the top of hips and moving to the top of shoulders. Repeat about five times.
    • Remove the gloves, turning them inside out.
  4. Post-Procedure Steps:
    • Perform hand hygiene.
    • Cover the resident completely per resident preference.
    • Assist the resident to their preferred position.
    • Lower the side rail that was raised.
    • Check for resident comfort and ask if anything else is needed.
    • Ensure the bed is low and locked. Check the brakes.
    • Place the call light or signaling device within reach of the resident.
    • Open the door and privacy curtain.
    • Perform hand hygiene.
    • Document and report any skin issues or changes noted with the resident.

View a YouTube video[1] of an instructor demonstrating a backrub:

 


  1. Chippewa Valley Technical College. (2022, December 3). Back Rub. [Video]. YouTube. Video licensed under CC BY 4.0https://youtu.be/CqFgIrLaQ4M

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