N105: Essentials of Nursing Care - Health Differences

Essentials of Nursing Study Guide

Nurses can also assist patients with decisions to help prevent common problems. These include: • Assist client with food selection. Limit diet caffeine sodas and high sugar drinks. Encourage the client to drink water or flavored water. • Interventions specific to the elderly include encouraging regular visits to the dentist for good dental care and maintenance. • Encourage more complex carbohydrates and less sugary foods. • Promote client social interaction at meal times. • Eat smaller meals more often during the day. • Suggesting avoidance of convenience foods and buy generic brands for economic incentives. Interventions for patients with no desire to eat include stimulating the appetite, keeping a clean environment free of odors, encouraging good oral hygiene, recommending rest, and using pain medication to help enhance appetite. Interventions for nutritional supplements include administering iron supplements with orange juice, which can intensify positive results. Vitamin supplements should be administered as ordered, and serum blood levels of vitamins should be monitored in situations of long term parenteral nutrition or suspected excess or deficiency. Provide instructions to clients regarding food preparation and food preservation. Cooked foods should not stand at room temperature for more than two to three hours. Hot foods should not be allowed to cool slowly. All kitchen utensils should be clean and hands should be washed before touching food. Raw meat should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than five days.

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