My patient does not comply.

[aricklefs]

I'm looking for advice. I have a post stroke patient that will not comply with sitting up to eat and is insisting on eating while laying down in bed. She has been educated many times of risks and is her own decision maker. She wants staff to leave food at the bedtime to snack on all day. What are our liability issues and what can we do? Should we have a staff stay with her? Have her sign a waiver?

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

The only part of this that I would struggle with is the leaving food at the bedside for the patient. I am happy to let them eat lying down and document their choice to do so along with what education has been performed. However, leaving food at the bedside feels liable.