Patients ordering their own meals

[cdktRN]

My hospital just changed over from scheduled meals to a new menu system and the patients ordering when they are hungry. This has put a lot of added stress on the nurses because now we have to direct our diabetics when to eat and then juggle their insulin around the time the trays might show up, make sure our elderly patients who can't see the menu or dial the phone get something to eat. In some dream land of management this is ideal, but when you have 8 patients (which is ridiculously high but that's our average), it is very hard to deal with.

Do any other hospitals have this type of meal arrangement? If so, how do you cope with the different meal schedules etc. thanks.

[rnmi2004]

I work nights, therefore I don't have to deal with meal trays as often as day shift, but we do have some people eat early breakfasts or late dinners.

We're all used to it, days and nights. The menus in each room have categories for types of diets. The diabetics have signs outside their doors, plus reminders on their trays. If a patient hasn't ordered by a certain time, the kitchen calls the patient. We can have automatic trays sent for patients who aren't able to make their own choices.

[swee2000]

I work at a hospital in SE Wisconsin which also uses the "room service" meal ordering system. As far as I know, it's been a success because patients feel they have more choices and more control over what they eat & when. Besides, who honestly plans out each of their meals for the next day, never changes their mind, &/or never gets hungrier or just hungry in-between meals?

In the case of diabetic patients who are allowed to eat &/or order their own meals, all we ask is that they notify staff as soon as their order is placed. That way, we can get an accurrate blood sugar reading within a 1/2-hour of the food arriving AND administer insulin(if needed) once the tray is in the patient's room. (This is actually what the hospital's policy states should be done...meaning blood sugars should not be taken more than 30 minutes prior to eating).

[webbiedebbie]

As a patient, I loved it!

As a nurse, mind you, I worked Mother/Baby, we had to pick up the trays after pt's finished eating. Sometimes there were 3 or 4 in each room due to guests, and we would be running up and down the halls picking up trays at all hours of the day! What especially irked me was....sometimes the trays were placed outside of the pt's door on the floor!!!!! Ewwwww! Not to mention having to squat down to pick the trays up! I'm not a busgirl.

[Mulan]

....sometimes the trays were placed outside of the pt's door on the floor!!!!!

Well, they do that in hotels don't they? :rotfl: