|
NICHE Hospital Advances and Resources Update: Meals & Nutrition
Older adults often have health issues that predispose them to nutritional problems. Chronic illness, medication use, poor dentition, cognitive impairment, diminished sense of smell and taste, dysphagia, and conditions of malabsorption can contribute to poor nutrition. Hospitalization, with multiple diagnostic tests, NPO times, and often unpalatable food can compound the problem. Supporting good nutrition is critical to restoring and maintaining health, and promoting quality of life.
Innovations
_____________________________________
Transferring Older Hospitalized Patients Out of
Bed to Chair at Meals: How Easy Is It and Does
It Matter?
2011 NICHE Conference Poster Presentation - Author: Sandy McGill, RN, MSN, MBA. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Sandy Miller at Vanderbilt University Medical Center compared the percentage of meals consumed when patients on an Inpatient Medicine/Acute Care Elderly Unit were in bed versus sitting up in a chair.
The use of education and staff reminders resulted in over 50% of patients being transferred to chairs for meals. Also, patients consumed more - nearly 20% more - when in the chair.
View the poster presentation.
_____________________________________
Implementing Up 4 Meals Campaign at Glendale Adventist Medical Center
2011 NICHE Conference Poster Presentation - Authors: Zoe Chen, GRN, Emillie Battig, RN, Agnes Pagdilao, GRN, Arsineh Petrosian, GRN, Vanessa Gilbertson, GRN, Elsa Cameron, GRN, Winnie Calvario, PT, DPT, GCS, Monica Koskey, MA-CCC, SLP. Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale, California.
The NICHE Geriatric Institutional Assessment Profile (GIAP) revealed older adult patients at Glendale were at high risk of experiencing functional decline. To improve care around this issue, a team was formed made up of Geriatric Resource Nurses (GRN). Called the "At Risk Elders Performance Improvement Team," the group started a number of initiatives to help eliminate preventable hospital acquired conditions.
One of the core initiatives was the "Up 4 Meals Campaign" that promoted early ambulation and sitting up for all meals to prevent functional decline during hospitalization. Nurses discussed the program with each patient and their family, and encouraged walking at regular intervals and sitting up to eat for ALL meals.
| 
