Scheduled Food Delivery to Nurses. Thoughts?

elkpark · Jun 5, 2014

I would not be interested in a service like that.

Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN · Jun 5, 2014

That sounds complicated. Nurses switch days with each, get canceled, get floated, and don't always have time to eat lunch. On top of that, food stored in a break room refrigerator often disappears. I'm not sure something like that would catch on.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jun 6, 2014

What if you could:
Browse an online menu.
Schedule food to be delivered on the days that you work.
Show up that day and find food in your unit refrigerator? Ready to pull out and eat when you're ready.
Think this would catch on?
What would you pay per plate?
What meals would you like to see?

Doubt it would catch on as it sound too complicated. After seeing most unit refrigerators, I'd be concerned it would be gone before I got there if I could find it. What happens if the schedule changes last minute due to patient census or acuity? Lose the money and a meal? How would you gain access to the unit breakrooms to deliver, especially in high security units like critical care and nursery?

TriciaJ, RN · Jun 6, 2014

I have often wished for a similar service. On those evening when you know you're not leaving the unit anytime, it would be so nice to have a sandwich cart roll around at some point. With healthy choices. Otherwise, we grab whatever we see. If a pt sends chocolates, we're scarfing chocolates...

There are coffee trucks that have routes to construction sites and other outdoor work crews. A sandwich cart or something similar would be a splendid idea.

NutmeggeRN, BSN · Jun 6, 2014

My love for greek salad was born when I was working full time nights....a nearby deli would deliver. But it was when we decided once at work whether we needed feta cheese or donuts to get thru the night! Not sure it would work today. Interesting idea though.

meanmaryjean, DNP, RN · Jun 6, 2014

Maybe not left in the breakroom fridge, but a place I could order a healthy meal from early in my shift and have it delivered for later consumption? I'd be all over that!

I've often thought about a middle-of-the-night food truck just for hospitals would make a killing in this completely un-served market.

JustBeachyNurse, LPN · Jun 6, 2014

Ordering during shift for delivery during shift would be more realistic than ordering in advance, hoping your shift doesn't change, and hoping your food is still there & edible at break time.

amoLucia · Jun 7, 2014

Food thieves would be my main concern. Not only have entire meals been stolen, but the snitches have 'picked & chose' at will - like when you see that your sandwich has been opened and then rewrapped but the your yogurt is gone.

A food cart is a nice idea though. Like at 2:15am each nite, the truck would be on the unit... I'd use it.

caliotter3 · Jun 7, 2014

Agree that the "food thieves" would get the benefit of the service. People at work can be very selfish at times.

amoLucia · Jun 9, 2014

And the food thieves really had no class as they freq would take the neat lunch tote-sacks, also with ALL the contents. Some really nice bags got stolen.

wellcoachRN · Jun 14, 2014

I used to work at a hospital that allowed an outside vendor who happened to be a nurse who left nursing to come in with a food cart and offer fresh soups and paninis, wraps, oatmeal, coffee and cookies. It was a huge success. It was often staffed by a college student. The nurse ended up having food carts in a few hospitals on night shift. It was great! The food cart also was a huge success with visitors.

As for the delivery service, I think it would be a hard sell.

Wishing you great success in your biz!