What evidence-based practice information should the nurse base decisions on regarding assigning ancillary staff to long-term care clients requiring feeding assistance?

Question

a. The staff should be allowed at least 20 minutes per patient to provide feeding assistance.
b. 50% of long-term care residents require some degree of assistance with eat-ing.
c. Long-term care clients eat better when fed in a community environment like a dining room.
d. Poor nutrition and hydration is primarily affected by the client's physical condition.

Answer 1

ANS: A
Having one staff person for every two or three residents who need feeding assistance would allow the resident 20 to 30 minutes with the staff and such an intervention creates a marked improvement in the individual client's nutritional status. It is true that the incidence of eating disability in long-term care is high with estimates that 50% of all residents cannot eat independently, but this option does not provide the focused information needed to determine an appropriate intervention. While eating in a community setting may have an impact on socialization and minimize social isolation, there is not proof to confirm it has a positive effect on nutrition. Research has shown that inadequate staffing in long-term care facilities is associated with poor nutrition and hydration with 50% of residents significantly increasing their oral food and fluid intake during mealtime when they received one-on-one feeding assistance.