Tactile Massage as Part of the Caring Act: A Qualitative Study in Short-Term Emergency Wards. (March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Airosa, Fanny; Falkenberg, Torkel; Öhlén, Gunnar; Arman, Maria
• Is Part Of: Journal of holistic nursing. Volume 34:Number 1(2016:Mar.)
• Page Start: 13
• Page End: 23
• Publication Date: 2016-03
• Subjects: caring -- presence -- massage therapy -- emergency nursing; Holistic nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Médecine holistique; 610.73
• DOI: 10.1177/0898010115579769
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0898-0101

Abstract

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to illuminate the nursing staff's lived experiences and meaning in giving tactile massage (TM) while caring for patients in short-term emergency ward.Method: Data were collected through individual qualitative interviews with six nurses and eight assistant nurses working with TM in short-term emergency wards in two hospitals in Sweden. The narratives were analyzed using a phenomenological hermeneutical method.Findings: Nurses experienced providing TM to patients as a present awareness in connection with compassion for the patient. TM provided the nurses with a tool to ease patient suffering and pain. Three dimensions were found where touch became a tool of doing, was an aware presence as a mindful being, and was embodied in a human-to-human connection with a changed caregiver.Conclusion: Given the current high-tech health care system with overcrowded units and a shortage of nursing staff, TM could be included as a caring tool to improve the caring in caregiving, allowing nurses to act in aware presence by touch to encourage health and well-being for both the patient and themselves.