A nurse is preparing to hand feed an older adult with a history of a right cerebrovascular accident (CVA) with facial weakness and dysphagia. Which techniques should the nurse utilize when feeding this patient? (Select all that apply.)
a. Sit the patient upright in a chair at 90 de-grees.
b. Allow the patient to sit upright for 15 minutes after the meal is completed.
c. Feed the patient only liquids to make swallowing easier.
d. Place the solid food in the left side of the mouth.
e. Have the patient swallow twice for every mouthful of food given.
ANS: A, E
When feeding a patient with dysphagia, it is important to have the patient sit upright at 90 de-grees and to remain upright for an hour following the meal. Other important techniques include having the patient swallow twice for every mouthful of food given. This patient has a history of a right CVA, which would mean that the patient has left-sided weakness. The food needs to be placed in the nonimpaired side of the mouth, which in this case would be the right side. Since the patient has a CVA, the intake of "thin liquids" can increase risk for aspiration.
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