Health And Social Care Reflection

L Last week at clinical I was given the opportunity to feed a patient aside from my group of residents. I was initially told that this patient would be a challenging care due to communication and language barriers. Throughout this care I was able to practice my basic nursing skills and learn the importance of nutrition and hydration, especially in elderly patients.

E Prior to feeding Mrs. K, I was told by my colleague that she doesn’t eat much and it’s difficult to understand her needs. I initially felt nervous and uncomfortable to feed Mrs. K due to my previous observations of other staff members providing care for her. However, I carried on with the care and provided my best practice. During her feeding I verbally reminded her to open
K she’s dependent to all care (feeding, personal hygiene, mobility, and pressure reliefs). As health care providers (HCPs), we must assist patients in meeting their nutritional needs by spending more time and ensuring the patients receive adequate food and fluids. Nurses have a crucial role in supporting patients especially those who are vulnerable or dependent (Bloomfield & Pegram,
This can be done by simply providing water to decrease the risks of dehydration (Holdsworth, 2012). I have observed Mrs. K’s level of hydration as she demonstrated facial gestures that indicated she wanted more to drink and eat. I found that spending more time and paying close attention to her feeding I got used to know her eating patterns, which, created a therapeutic moment between the client and myself. During this time, I established a nurse-patient relationship through the comfort of my actions and her response, by finishing her meals. I provided simple instructions throughout the feedings as I have also ensured that she was comfortable and positioned properly. This created a spiritual environment because she welcomed me to provide therapeutic care for her. I exemplified my best practice of Watson’s 9th Caritas Process during this moment. Further care and plan, would include monitoring patients’ food and fluid intake. This is important to document and communicate with other HCPs to ensure the patients meeting their nutritional needs. In addition, to prevent further health complications such as pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, and heart disease due to malnutrition (Bloomfield & Pegram, 2012). Furthermore, referral to dieticians for advice to increase their appetites or alternative supplements and monitoring their weights would be helpful. These