Helps in Patient Feeding
The patient should be raised on pillows to a comfortable, suitable height and position, but the head should not be pressed too far forward. The shoulders should be well covered, but the arms free. The tray may be on a towel on the bed, or on a small table beside it. A good way is for the nurse to sit facing a’ table near the head of the bed, her feeding arm next to the patient. A napkin should be under the patient’s chin. There should appear to be no haste on the part of the nurse, else the patient’s digestion may be disturbed. The food is carried to the mouth slowly, carefully, then placed on the tongue, not merely to the lips.
Hot soups and broths should be given in small amounts at first until it is found that the temperature is correct. It should not be necessary to say that they should not be cooled by blow¬ing upon them. Raise the spoon carefully so the fluid will not run down the mouth corners. Solid foods should be cut in small pieces and given slowly. Semi-solid and soft foods should be given by spoon.
If the patient can drink fluids they may be given in a glass (two-thirds full), or by an invalid’s nursing cup (a spouted and partially covered cup), or through a glass tube from a glass or a cup. Even a clean rubber tube, with glass end for the mouth, may be used, or soda straws, if other conveniences are not available. A bent glass tube is best when the patient must recline while drinking. The cup or glass containing the fluid should be placed in the curve of the patient’s arm in this csse, to be easily reached. If the helpless patient is given fluid from a glass, the head should be raised by reaching one hand under the pillow rather than under the head. A special tray with legs for use in bed is best when the patient can feed himself.
SPECIAL FOODS.—It might be well here to give a few sug¬gestions regarding special foods often given to patients under varying conditions. The volume devoted to Foods and Diet covers in the main all the foods that will ever be required in building, maintaining and recovering health, but some sim¬ple modifications will be given here that may be useful in time of sickness.