Fed up?
Article Abstract:
Patients who are unable to feed themselves are often not consulted about their feelings and preferences by those feeding them. Feeders should ensure that the patient knows that their hands and the cutlery are clean, and should ask about the patient's food preferences. A spoon should not be used without consulting the patient, as this can make the patient feel like a child, and care should be taken to ensure that no food is dropped on the plate or the patient's face. The establishment of guidelines for feeding patients and ensuring that medical staff have proper training in feeding would serve to relieve much patient frustration.
Publication Name: Nursing Times
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0954-7762
Year: 1992
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Working up a thirst
Article Abstract:
A small-scale study by David Burns, nurse tutor at Sefton School of Health Studies, Liverpool, UK, suggests that, on the basis of their fluid balance charts, 45% of acutely ill hospital patients are not receiving the basic daily minimum fluid requirements. Since fluid requirements generally increase with acute illness, acutely ill patients could risk dehydration. Research has shown that fluid intake is not always recorded accurately by nurses, despite the importance of fluid balance in maintaining health.
Publication Name: Nursing Times
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0954-7762
Year: 1992
User Contributions:
Comment about this article or add new information about this topic: