Personal Care Feeding a Patient Feeding a Patient

Personal Care Feeding a Patient

Feeding a Patient • Good nutrition is an important part of a pt’s treatment • Meals are often a time for social interaction for most people • Pts who eat alone are more at risk for having poor appetites & poor nutrition • Residents of LTC facilities are encouraged to eat in the dining room • If a pt is confined to bed, it is important to talk with the pt while serving the tray or feeding the pt

Feeding a Patient Steps to assisting a patient with meals: • • Preparation for tray Tray delivery Setting up the tray Feeding the pt

Preparing for the Tray • • • Offer the bedpan/urinal or assist pt to the bathroom Allow pt to wash hands and face (if desired) Provide oral hygiene if desired Help pt to a sitting position if possible Clear the overbed table Remove objects such as emesis basin or bedpan from the pt’s view

Tray Delivery • Make sure pt understands if meal will be delayed due to X-rays or tests • Check the tray against the pt’s name, room number, & type of diet ordered • If anything is out of place (salt with a salt-free diet or sugar with a diabetic diet) check with your supervisor or the dietitian • Never add any food to the tray without checking the diet order first

Setting up the tray • Make sure all food and utensils are within reach • If necessary, assist by cutting meat, opening beverage cartons, and buttering bread • If pt is visually impaired, tell them what food is on the plate by comparing the plate to a clock

Feeding a Patient • Test the temperature of all hot foods by placing a small amount on your wrist – never blow on hot food to cool it • Alternate the foods by giving sips of liquids between solid foods • Use straws for liquids unless the pt has dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing). Straws can force liquids down the throat faster and cause choking • Use food thickener to solidify liquids if ordered by physician or dietitian

Feeding a Patient • Only offer small bites of food at one time, filling the spoon/fork 1/3 -1/2 full • Hold the spoon/fork at right angles to the pt’s mouth so you are feeding the pt from the tip of the utensil • Encourage pt to eat as much as possible • Provide a relaxed, unhurried atmosphere • Give pt sufficient time to chew

Feeding a Patient • Observe how much pt eats so you can record it • If pt doesn’t like a food on their tray, ask supervisor or dietitian whether a substitute can be provided • Be alert to signs of choking

Feeding a Patient • Provide liquids to keep mouth moist to make chewing & swallowing easier • If pt has had a stroke, one side of mouth may be affecteddirect food to the unaffected side • In stroke pt, watch pt’s throat to check for swallowing and check for food that may be lodged in the affected side of the mouth