Transcript Powerpoint

Feeding a Patient
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Nurses need to refine their feeding skills to assist patients in
maintaining:
Nutritional Status
Independence
Dignity
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Altered activity level
Decreased mobility
Illness
Physical impairments that limit self-feeding such as
hemiplegia, fractured arm, burns, cancer, surgery,
or generalized weakness.
The presence of intravenous catheters or tubing’s,
dressings, and bandages
Some elderly patients may require feeding
assistance because of the physical alterations
associated with aging.
Neurologically or orthopedically impaired patient
who may be unable to manipulate feeding utensils.
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Culture
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Religion
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Personal preference
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Mental cognition. When individuals are depressed,
lonely, apathetic, fearful, grieving, or feeling
hopeless, nutritional intake usually decreases.
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Being fed by another person may have psychological
implications. The increased need for feeding
assistance may lead to depression, because patients
feel they are a burden to either the staff or their
family.
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Some common nursing diagnosis that relate
to the individual with a nutritional intake
problem include:
◦ Altered nutrition: less than body
requirements RT:
◦ Self-care deficit: feeding RT:
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The patient will:
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Remove any unpleasant sights
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Remove any obnoxious odors
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Clear the over-bed table
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Provide good lighting
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Set up chair for the nurse
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Assist patient to urinate or defecate prior
to the mealtime
Provide oral hygiene
Provide with dentures or eyeglasses
Place in comfortable position
Apply any special devices
Provide with clothing protectors
Assemble needed supplies to facilitate
feeding.
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Wash hands before handling food and
serving trays
Identify the diet tray for particular patient
Assess tray for completeness and correct
diet
Prepare tray to meet patient’s needs
Check temperature of food
Place tray at height and position so it is
easy for the patient to access.
Wash hands before handling food and
serving tray
 Identify the diet tray for the patient
 Assess tray for completeness, correct diet,
order changes
 Sit in chair next to patient
 Allow patient to eat in order and speed of
choice, and the amount requested
**Do NOT Hurry patient
 Cut food in bite size pieces
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Feed patient, putting one type of food on
utensil at a time
Provide fluids as requested
Use time to develop rapport with patient
At end of meal
◦ Wash hands
◦ Provide mouth care
◦ Assist to comfortable position
Document
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If patient is at risk for aspiration, check the
gag reflex first.
Check temperature—do not burn patient
Do not feed patient who is asleep,
unresponsive, choking, unable to swallow,
unable to elevate head 450, or whose head
is tilted backwards or downwards.
Feed patients with swallowing difficulties
semi-solid foods that will not choke the
patient.
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If a patient questions anything on tray, check
the doctor’s order for possible changes that
the dietary department did not know about.
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If the patient should get choked, turn to the
side, sweep any food out of the mouth. If no
food is present, may need to perform the
Heimlich maneuver.
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You deliver a tray to your patient and he says
that the doctor said he could have a regular
diet today instead of a full liquid.
What would you do?
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Clear liquid
◦ Contains liquids that are thin and without
pulp or foods that liquefy at room
temperature.
◦ Most often used after surgery, or with
patients with diarrhea of vomiting
◦ Examples:
 Apple juice, ginger ale. Gelatin
 Decaffeinated coffee, tea, broth
 Fruit ices, or Popsicles
◦ Temporary diet
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Full liquid
◦ Addition of calories, about 1500 and
provides more nutrients than a clear liquid
diet
◦ Examples:
 Milkshakes, all juices
 Blenderized foods
 Custards and puddings
 Eggnog
 Creamed soups
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If the patient is on a clear liquid diet and the
lunch tray is brought to the room with:
◦ Chicken broth, milk, tea, and custard
◦ What would the nurse do?
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Soft Diet
◦ Used as a transition to the regular diet or
for those who have difficulty eating
◦ Designed to be chewed and provide
minimal fiber.
◦ Low in fiber and devoid of brans, grains,
strong vegetables, raw fruit or vegetables
◦ Mechanical soft – food is chopped,
ground, or pureed-for those with
difficulty with chewing / poor teeth
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Regular Diet
◦ Contains approximately 2,500 calories
◦ Consists of appropriate serving from a
variety of food groups to meet nutritional
needs.
◦ Has no restrictions
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Diabetic diet
◦ Contains specified calorie intake and
certain foods that are allowed to meet that
intake goal
Cardiac diet
◦ Low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and salt
Low Salt diet
◦ Used for patients with hypertension
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Kidney diet
◦ Used for patients with kidney disease.
◦ Protein restriction with restrictions of
fluid, sodium, potassium, phosphorus
Liver Diet
◦ Used for patients with liver disorder
◦ Low in protein, high in CHO, vitamins
◦ Sodium, fluid may be restricted
Gastrointestinal Diet
◦ Avoid foods that increase stomach acid
◦ May have increase or decrease in fiber
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The nurse notes that Mrs. Brown has eaten about
10% of food on tray. The nurse is concerned about
her nutritional status and asks Mrs. Brown why she is
not eating.
Mrs. Brown responds by saying that it is not the type
of food that she eats. Mr. Brown offers to bring in
food from home that she likes.
What is the nurses response? Do you allow the family
to bring in food from the outside? What is the
criteria?