title: Rekindling the role of nurses in patients' oral nutrition.
abstract: Hospital malnutrition is a worldwide problem. A nutritional care policy was evaluated to determine whether nutrition was enhanced by improving patients' access and nurses' supervision of meals. Fourteen pre-audit wards (435 patients) and 20 postaudit wards (422 patients) across three hospitals participated in a pre-post audit and observation study with an examination of documentation. A food satisfaction survey was completed by 226 patients (pre) and 240 patients (post). A modest increase in the proportion of patients receiving supervision with meals (83% pre, 88% post, P = 0.058) was not associated with an increase in consumption (50% or more of meal). Patients report poor appetite in the presence of good to fair food quality. The nurse's role in nutritional care was defined. Protected mealtimes supported by nurse managers reorganizing staff mealtimes with assistance from carers, volunteers and other health professionals were endorsed. Nurses must ensure that patient's meal trays are accessible.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jefferies
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.|Centre for Applied Nursing Research, South Western Sydney Local Health District & School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Maree
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: SWS Centre for Applied Nursing Research, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Langdon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000517:prevention & control*; D062407:Meals; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009752:Nutritional Status; D017060:Patient Satisfaction
keywords: nursing; nutrition; observation study; patient satisfaction; quantitative