Nonpharmacologic Comfort Measures and Delegated NA Care
Key Points
- NAs report pain cues and carry out delegated comfort interventions safely.
- Heat/cold require skin barriers and timed monitoring to prevent injury.
- Repositioning and short massage sessions can reduce pressure-related pain.
Delegated Comfort Interventions
- Topical medications: Apply using infection-control precautions and nurse-delegated instructions.
- Heat/cold: Confirm delegated setting/timing first; use a thin barrier and assess skin before/after. Heat is generally 5 to 20 minutes based on tolerance; cold should not exceed 20 minutes. Do not apply over medication patches or implanted devices.
- Positioning: Reposition at least every 2 hours or more often based on pain/skin risk; use pillows between joints/bony prominences and for body support.
- Massage: Short sessions (about 3 to 5 minutes) for relaxation; avoid red or swollen areas.
- Other measures: Conversation, music, photos, games, deep breathing, mindfulness, and light ROM.
Safety Priorities
- Verify delegated parameters with nurse before application settings/timing.
- Reassess comfort and report lack of benefit, worsening pain, or skin changes.
- Sanitize reusable comfort equipment per policy.