1. In accordance with your organisation’s policy, perform the non-pharmacological intervention for pain management of a hand, foot and back massage for complimentary therapy. • Introduce yourself,...

1.    In accordance with your organisation’s policy, perform the non-pharmacological intervention for pain management of a hand, foot and back massage for complimentary therapy.


•    Introduce yourself, offer and explain procedure to the client. If client gives consent, gather equipment.
•    Ensure privacy and dignity at all times. To avoid interruptions, place a sign outside the door stating; (Please see nursing staff before entering the room)
•    Ask the client, if they would like to listen to some music, or smell some aromatherapy oils during their massage - provide choice and confirm comfort level for volume, etc.
•    Ask the patient to take deep relaxing breath - for relaxed state. Provide visualisation and breathing techniques to aid relaxation.
•    Clean and dry the area to be massaged
•    Gently shake the feet or hands to be massaged to further encouraging relaxation
•    Commence massage, using slow long motions. Seek feedback from the client to confirm amount of pressure, speed and comfort is acceptable. Observe the skin for abnormalities, and the musculoskeletal system for asymmetry during massage.
Clinical update:

At 1200 Mrs Martinelli's son arrives for a visit and asks you how his mother is. You explain to him, that she is comfortable now, but she did have significant pain this morning. On hearing this he becomes noticeably distressed. You interpret his suddenly deflated and passive body language to indicate that he is struggling to cope with the emotional impact of his mothers’ life limiting illness.