Is it ethical for hospitals to have Mickey D's on premises?

Lisa CCU RN, RN · Oct 25, 2005

The reason I was given for this at the children's hospital I volunteered at was that when people are sick they need as many calories and nutrition as they can get. People who are either picky or used to eating certain things, especially children, will eat more of the unhealthy stuff than nutritious things, so they give them what they want. Basically it just boils down to getting the calories in them, no matter how unhealthy.

hrtprncss · Oct 25, 2005

Personally for me I'd take the 99cent burger at mickey D's as oppose to the stuff in cafeteria that costs about seven bucks.

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2005

Ha! Ha! I had to laugh when I read this. We had a Mickey D's in the lobby of one hospital I worked at and a Wendy's in another. Both were large city hospitals. I think the hospitals allow this so they can get some rent and don't have to fuss with running their own food service although I have to say that both the hospitals that these restaurants were in had full service cafeterias. I noticed that these fast food places were on the way to the cafeterias so I'm guessing that they kept some of the public traffic out of the cafeteria. Ever try to get lunch in the cafeteria when a bunch of visitors also have the same idea? I've lived in downtown areas of large cities before and it is not uncommon for the lobbies or lower floors to have fast food places for the people in the building to buy food from since space in large cities is limited. I lived in one high rise that had a full scale grocery store on one of the lower basement floors! It was great to just take the elevator down to the store to go grocery shopping! You'd never know the grocery store was there unless you lived in the building.

Dalzac, LPN, LVN, RN · Oct 25, 2005

In Oklahoma City the VA hospital has a Burger King

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2005

Is it ethical for hospitals to understaff?

Is it ethical for them to dress everyone in scrubs, so that the lay people think that everyone is an RN with licensed skills, when the vast majority of those in scrubs are secretaries, janitors, transport, aides, dietary, etc?

Is it ethical for ForProfit hospitals to take the money that they have received from medicare (our tax dollars) and donate it to Arnold Schwartzeneggar to fight laws duly passed by the People, for the good of the Public.

Is it ethical for facilities to employ minimally trained, minimally educated, minimally paid UAPs, in place of proper safe staff?

There are many "unethical" issues out there....this is a relatively minor one.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Oct 25, 2005

I don't know about the ethics of it, but I agree something is wrong with this picture.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · Oct 25, 2005

There was a just a huge toodoo over at Cleveland Clinic about this....Dr. Cosgrove said that since they are a top heart center they shouldn't be serving this stuff. He also made them cut out all red meat in the cafeteria, anything high fat.

Do I think it is right....personally, I don't care, but the kiddies in the Children's hospital that won't eat anything else deserve it.

I think that hospitals have other things to worry about. For that fact, should they cut out pop, coffee, etc also? Serve water and salad and tofu?

MissJoRN, RN · Oct 25, 2005

I once heard that the McDonalds at CHOP (Philly) is the busiest one in the world. Interesting...

I always thought it was a little strange, too, LOL.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Oct 25, 2005

At the hospital where I am currently doing my clinicals, they have this luscious bakery. Doughnuts, cupcakes, regular 2-layer cakes, cookies, and on and on. Every time I pass it, my mouth waters. But it doesn't seem fair to me that they have this type of thing in a hospital for heaven's sake. Grady Hospital here in Atlanta has a McDonalds on the premises and they are not the only ones. And yes, it is not uncommon to see patients over there pushing their IV poles. If obesity is on the rise along with Type II diabetes and hypertension in our young people, and a hospital's stated mission has something to do with promoting health, then how can they seriously have these type of temptations right on the premises?
Yeah I know about personal choice, etc. etc. But honestly, it seems to me that they are setting up for failure those who are most vulnerable. At the very least, it's hypocritical. Your thoughts?

Personally, I wish these places weren't settled at the hospitals. Yes, it is a matter of personal choice and all but something is seriously wrong with the pic. You are putting the temptation under the patient's nose.

Anyhow, remember these companies are powerful too and money talk (#*) walks......... :sniff:

Judee Smudee, ADN, RN · Oct 25, 2005

I think as long as they made healthy choices avaliable it is OK. I have had a issue for long time about lack of healthy choice in the hospital cafeteria. It is a shame that we are doing bypasses in the OR while everything in the cafeteria is a heart attack on a plate. I have frequently said to friends, "I think the hospital is trying to make business for itself with this food"..

Thunderwolf, MSN, RN · Oct 25, 2005

Is it ethical for hospitals to understaff?
Is it ethical for them to dress everyone in scrubs, so that the lay people think that everyone is an RN with licensed skills, when the vast majority of those in scrubs are secretaries, janitors, transport, aides, dietary, etc?
Is it ethical for ForProfit hospitals to take the money that they have received from medicare (our tax dollars) and donate it to Arnold Schwartzeneggar to fight laws duly passed by the People, for the good of the Public.
Is it ethical for facilities to employ minimally trained, minimally educated, minimally paid UAPs, in place of proper safe staff?
There are many "unethical" issues out there....this is a relatively minor one.