The nutritional and nursing benefits of social mealtimes
Wykes, R.
Nursing Times 93(4): 32-34
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0954-7762 PMID: 9043322 Document Number: 474017
Hospital-induced malnutrition is a major care issue for nurses. Society values meals as social occasions and as an expression of community, but hospitals tend to break with this tradition. This paper proposes that making patient mealtimes a social occasion offers nurses a chance to improve nutritional care, enhance opportunities for communication and give patients a welcome break from the ward routine.