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

[SharonH, RN]

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?

[Ladybugsmom]

I just know it was a life saver for me to have those places right there handy for me when my daughter stayed at Vanderbuilt. I would have to sneak away to begin with to run down and get me something and even then she would get really upset, so it would have been immpossible for me to leave the building period. She wasnt able to eat so it would have just been wrong to do it in front of her.

[vloho]

I think the same question was asked many years ago about cigaretts sold in vending machines , does any one remember this or am I the only one that old?

[Empress]

This is slightly off topic and i realize this is an old thread but... What sort of people are raising their kids to eat ONLY McDonald's? :uhoh21: Kids don't run the household. When a kid is hungry they will eat what you give them. These families need a nutrition lesson fast.

Many kids with developmental issues are resistent to diet changes, especially under stressful conditions like a hospitalization. Offering a "treat food" may be enough motivation to eat. Or not. Simply saying they'll eat if they're hungry doesn't work, some kids will end up with a feeding tube because of eating issues.

[WannaBTraveling]

I think the same question was asked many years ago about cigaretts sold in vending machines , does any one remember this or am I the only one that old?

OOhH OOOhH I remember.....those machines used to be everywhere.

[ICRN2008, BSN, RN]

I think that there is something wrong with hospitals with large cardiac programs (or even ones that only do cardiac- the specialty hospitals that are springing up around the country) serving cheeseburgers and cream soups every day in the cafeteria. In these same hospitals, it's difficult to put together a decent salad for less than $6, and a good one is even more expensive.

It's even worse when health systems offer free meals to their employees on holidays, and they end up bringing in KFC!

When it comes down to it, people have to make their own choices about what they eat. The way it stands now, though, there really isn't much of a choice. I think that it should be required of the food service companies who run the cafeterias that for every fried or high-fat item on the menu, there is at least one healthy, reasonably priced choice. These food service companies are competing for contracts, so I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to get one to agree to this arrangement. It's at least worth a shot, because if the hospital itself isn't promoting healthy behaviors, who will?

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

The hospitals in North Carolina offer similar food choices .. as well as on-site smoking areas! It was unbelievable how many obese people would tote their IV poles into the on-site Hardees, grab a burger, and then eat it while smoking in the smoking area. I've even seen one patient smoking through his trach! It is frustrating as a nurse, but I've learned to look at it from a different perspective ... this pretty much guarantees job security for a very long time. :monkeydance:

OT, but most hospitals in my area of NC forbid smoking on campus (not even with patient family members, contractual construction workers, or in private vehicles in parking lot). And, haven't seen a fast-food restaurant in a hospital here. The large teaching hospital in my area actually encourages healthy eating, with tasty and nutritious food choices in the cafeteria.

[moonischasingme1]

I think it is gross and disgusting for a hospital to have fast food, blagh!

[NurseKittyAtlanta]

OOhH OOOhH I remember.....those machines used to be everywhere.

They are still around in North Carolina and other "tobacco states."

[smk1, LPN]

Many kids with developmental issues are resistent to diet changes, especially under stressful conditions like a hospitalization. Offering a "treat food" may be enough motivation to eat. Or not. Simply saying they'll eat if they're hungry doesn't work, some kids will end up with a feeding tube because of eating issues.

True, but I bet developmental issues aren't the case for a lot of the kids who will throw a fit until they get Mcdonalds or whatever they want, when they want it. I just don't understand the parents that allow their kids to make the decisions. I have a friend whose child WILL NOT DRINK WATER. this child is 3 years old. Now who has allowed this pattern/problem to develop? The parents! She wants sprite anytime she is thirsty. Not going to happen at my house. I also am appalled at the parents who are fixing 2 and 3 different kinds of meals because "junior" won't eat this or that or he decided he wanted something else after you made _____. I just think we are doing a great disservice to children everywhere by allowing them to think they are the center of everyones universe and can have whatever they want if they whine long enough and basically act a hot mess.

[Empress]

True, but I bet developmental issues aren't the case for a lot of the kids who will throw a fit until they get Mcdonalds or whatever they want, when they want it. I just don't understand the parents that allow their kids to make the decisions. I have a friend whose child WILL NOT DRINK WATER. this child is 3 years old. Now who has allowed this pattern/problem to develop? The parents! She wants sprite anytime she is thirsty. Not going to happen at my house. I also am appalled at the parents who are fixing 2 and 3 different kinds of meals because "junior" won't eat this or that or he decided he wanted something else after you made _____. I just think we are doing a great disservice to children everywhere by allowing them to think they are the center of everyones universe and can have whatever they want if they whine long enough and basically act a hot mess.

I think you missed my point. I think there are some families where that happens, and there are families who are dealing with sensory eating issues, but you won't know the difference unless you intimately know the family and what they are dealing with.

For example, my kids have developmental delays and sensory issues. My kids will only eat plain chicken, noodles (one will only eat spaghetti), pureed tomato sauce, broccoli, apples/applesauce, and french fries. One won't eat any fruit other then applesauce and bananas, the other will eat small berries and grapes in addition to whole apples. They won't drink juice unless it is apple. The only vegetable is broccoli, and small amounts pureed into meals or muffins. Limited texture range, one won't touch cheese, pudding, yogurt, ice cream, etc. No casseroles or food touching. Crunchy foods are okay.

Now let's say one of them is hospitalized. Since they have limited diet to start with, add in the stress and unfamiliarity of the hospital environment. I can guarentee they won't touch any food brought to them by the staff. I would either have to bring them food from home, or if desperate enough I would go to a fast food place and bring them fries and chicken nuggets, foods they have as an occasional treat. I would hate for someone to judge me or my family based on that since they don't know the story behind us. That's all I am saying.

[SunshineBaby]

Wow, I'm quite surprised by the number of nurses who think McDonalds is a fine choice to have on hospital premises. I despise McDonalds for their blatant lies and targeting of children, who are not yet old enough to realize the impact food choices have on our lives.

For years McDonalds fried their french fries in beef tallow and when found out they switched to vegetable oil but continued to "add" beef flavoring to their fries and lie to the public about doing so. Even their so called healthy meals can be a trap to unknowing consumers. The California Cobb salad with crispy chicken, creamy caesar dressing and a small coke for 710 calories and 39 grams of fat, which is more than a Quarter Pounder and small order of fries. Sure you could get the grilled chicken and a lite dressing but some people think eating a salad equates with healthy.

I'm all about personal responsibility too, but not at the cost of our nation's health. We are in a crises here in the United States and I for one won't simply sit back and hope that people will exercise their personal responsibility. As nurses, we need to be role models to our patients. I encourage everyone to read the book Fast Food Nation and really learn what is being marketed to us.

[smk1, LPN]

I think you missed my point. I think there are some families where that happens, and there are families who are dealing with sensory eating issues, but you won't know the difference unless you intimately know the family and what they are dealing with.

For example, my kids have developmental delays and sensory issues. My kids will only eat plain chicken, noodles (one will only eat spaghetti), pureed tomato sauce, broccoli, apples/applesauce, and french fries. One won't eat any fruit other then applesauce and bananas, the other will eat small berries and grapes in addition to whole apples. They won't drink juice unless it is apple. The only vegetable is broccoli, and small amounts pureed into meals or muffins. Limited texture range, one won't touch cheese, pudding, yogurt, ice cream, etc. No casseroles or food touching. Crunchy foods are okay.

Now let's say one of them is hospitalized. Since they have limited diet to start with, add in the stress and unfamiliarity of the hospital environment. I can guarentee they won't touch any food brought to them by the staff. I would either have to bring them food from home, or if desperate enough I would go to a fast food place and bring them fries and chicken nuggets, foods they have as an occasional treat. I would hate for someone to judge me or my family based on that since they don't know the story behind us. That's all I am saying.

Empress, I don't think I am missing your point. There are definitely times where giving a child treats in a frightening enviornment is the right thing to do. I am just tired of seeing kids throw a fit about having to eat anything other than pizza and chips and mcdonalds and the parents catering to them because they don't want to deal with the whole actually being a parent thing. All kids will have their likes and dislikes and I think you can accomodate them to a point, but some parents go overboard and aren't doing their kids any favors. These kids will have to deal with certain things that aren't pleasing to them once in awhile in the course of their lives. In general if a kid is genuinely hungry, they will eat. If they are genuinely thirsty they will drink. This may not ALWAYS be the case, but I would bet that it is more often than not. Now I am not saying the nurse needs to have the hassle of dealing with this. I am more saying that the parents need to act like parents. If a kid won't eat anything but McDonalds, are you going to feed him this junk 3x per day for years to come simply because he wants it? It is outrageously unhealthy. Again that is not doing the kid any favors. Parents need to set limits! Now I am sure this isn't the case with you, but it is for many people that I see lately. I've kind of taken this topic off on a tangent though...