In this post, we are going to explain another essential CNA skill which is, How to feed a patient?
- Raise the head of the bed and sit on the bed while feeding.
- Use a spoon but gloves are not required while feeding.
- Make sure the meal is according to the diet specified by the physician.
- Talk politely to the patient and make sure a sufficient amount of food intake; encourage a reluctant client in doing so.
Video Demonstration
CNA Tips for Feeding Patients
Client care is the main motto of the health sector. Medical staff and CNAs work day and night to ensure it. Taking care of a patient’s health is important, but what’s equally important is taking care of their meals. Eating right is the biggest factor that elevates the process of recovery. Eating is no big deal when you are healthy, but when you are not healthy, even eating something that you like becomes difficult.
Generally, patients possess a mindset that medicines, eating little, and taking rest will help them to recover faster. However, they hardly realize that to nullify the side effects of the medicines, they need to eat healthily and properly.
You cannot blame the patients. When they are under treatment, their senses do not suggest what is right and what is wrong. Even the medicines produce some adverse effects on their health, affecting them physically, mentally, and emotionally. They cause loss of appetite, nausea, drowsiness or sleeplessness, fatigue, etc. They feel as if eating is a burden. Some find food tasteless while they eat. Thus regardless of the reasons, difficulty in eating is bound to occur during treatment.
Here comes CNA into the picture. Certified nursing assistants play a vital role in taking complete care of patients, right from assisting in daily living activities to feeding. Before getting into this, let us go through the physical/mental problems that may affect one’s appetite. Some clients develop a loss of sensation in their mouth and find it difficult to swallow or chew. Patients find it problematic to eat when their teeth are weak or missing. Depression and loneliness may also be the reasons. Some find it difficult to eat on their own if they have poor eyesight. In such cases, only certified nursing assistants can serve/help them.
There are some tips that will help CNAs in taking care of clients’ meals. You must feed clients on time. Some clients find it difficult to feel the taste of food. In such cases, add some spices like:
- Cardamom
- Coriander
- Asafetida, etc.
This adds flavor to the food that enhances mood. Constipation may also be a problem. Include fibrous food items like fenugreek and spinach that will help in the movement of the bowels. Provide the food that will help in the quick recovery of the patients. If some patients are finding it difficult to chew the food, mesh it, and then feed them. Some clients suffer from heartburn. You must ask them not to sleep immediately after eating.
- In addition, ask them to walk for a while if their body allows them to do so.
- If swallowing is an issue,
- Offer them cold food instead of the hot ones,
- As swallowing cold foodstuffs is easier.
Besides these tips, encouragement and support help a lot. You must not be dominating. If you force a client to eat, he/she may try his/her best to avoid it. Instead, convince them that he can recover quickly only if he takes care of his food intake.
Generally, clients eat properly without realizing it if you go on talking to them affectionately. This keeps them involved. In addition to this, a proper amount of water intake is also essential. Other factors that may help the patients include spending quality time with patients, taking them for a walk, encouraging them in indulging in the activities of their interest.
Thus in the end, only certified nursing assistants can help clients with their food intake. It will not only improve the condition of clients by leaps and bounds, ensuring quick recovery but also give you satisfaction and happiness.