What do you all think of tele patients drinking coffee

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I am just asking, because a lot of people like to have that cup of coffee in the morning, but I am usually reluctant to comply due to the diuretic effect of caffeine, not to mention the fact that it makes the heart race sometimes. Also, giving it to patients on a fluid restriction seems counterproductive. Why give them their bit of fluid in the form of coffee? It just seems like common sense not to give coffee, but our hospital does not have a policy on this matter. What do you all think, or what do you do in your practice?

Thanks!!

No coffee, no fat, no dairy, no meat, no sugar, no smoking, no nothing.

We can't take everything away. If coffee makes a certain individual go into a dangerous arrythmia then it must be discussed and cut back. I think it is very easy for us to judge from our side of the hospital bed.

I would allow any stable patient to have most foods or beverages in moderation. If I found their family was bringing in those majorly high extra double cappaccinos I would also have an issue with it if if hurt the patient.

Not everyone reacts to caffiene poorly. Some of us get tachycardic and headachy without that one good a.m or afternoon cup.

Could I live without it? Sure. But why live at all if you feel deprived of every pleasure. Being in the hospital strips one of their dignity, privacy and independence already. They are not children(though somtimes act like it)

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What beverage are you planning on giving them that has nutritional value, besides meal replacement drinks? Juice is mostly sugar. Water is good but not everyone wants to drink water all day long.

Not that meal replacement drinks are all that great either. I was visiting a PP client in the hospital and happened to read the label on the meal replacement drink that came with her regular diet. Lots of sugar in that, too, for an otherwise healthy adult.

Well, not let them have it because it provides no nutrition, and they could be having something that is far more beneficial to their well being.

The same could be said for the little dessert that comes with all trays. I think you'd have quite a stampede of angry patients if one tried to eliminate that. ;) The prerequisite jell-o that seems to appear all the time has probably zero nutrients (with the exception of high protein jell-o), with the exception of some fluid which could count in the daily diet.

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Sorry, double post.

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Specializes in LDRP.
I am just asking, because a lot of people like to have that cup of coffee in the morning, but I am usually reluctant to comply due to the diuretic effect of caffeine, not to mention the fact that it makes the heart race sometimes. Also, giving it to patients on a fluid restriction seems counterproductive. Why give them their bit of fluid in the form of coffee? It just seems like common sense not to give coffee, but our hospital does not have a policy on this matter. What do you all think, or what do you do in your practice?

Thanks!!

I am just a student...

Had a patient last semester who would have PVC's after drinking his morning cup o'joe. Found out he was drinking 8 cups of coffee every morning at home. Had a little talk with his caregiver about going decaf for most of his intake and she freaked on me saying he "deserves his regular coffee if he wants it at his old age." He wasnt THAT old. ;)

I gave him decaf as his nurse and he never noticed. One night caregiver came in and brought him coffee from home right before he had an EKG. Well, we basically got an abnormal EKG that showed the coffee giving this guy arrythmias. :uhoh3::uhoh3: The doc was somewhat unconcerned about the whole thing.:uhoh21:

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Well, not let them have it because it provides no nutrition, and they could be having something that is far more beneficial to their well being.

Coffee is quite beneficial to my well being, as well as the wel-being of those around me, because if I don't get my coffee in the morning, I'M GOING TO HURT SOMEONE.

Oldiebutgoodie

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Specializes in acute care.

I'm just a student working as an aide on a tele floor, but our patients quite often get regular coffee/colas sent up on their trays, unless there is a specific reason not to. Some tele patients are fine having their coffee etc., but others may not be--making a blanket statement that "tele patients shouldn't drink coffee" doesn't work. However, I will say that I would not want the patients drinking the coffee that the staff on our floor make and drink--the last two days I have thrown PVC's all afternoon after drinking a cup of that stuff; I don't know what they put in it!!

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Specializes in Stepdown progressive care.

If a paient is on a cardiac diet then yes their diet does specify that they cannot have caffinated beverages.

Our kitchen on the floor only has decaffinated sodas for the pts to drink. Otherwise we will give the pts coffee if they ask and we actually have some made.

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When I was in the Critical Care Unit with a bad GI bleed (due to aspirin abuse for headache control), my first meal included warm water, a sugar packet, and a tea bag. Since I do not drink tea, I just added the sugar to the warm water and drank that.

Subsequent meals included decaffeinated coffee, which I did not drink, either. I had a diet-restricted menu for my final meal. No soft drinks were available. However, milk was listed in at least 3 types (skim, 2%, and whole milk). I ordered whole milk, which they allowed me to have without protest.

I never really understood if they were trying to get me to drink coffee, or if they served me coffee to keep me from drinking warm sugar water :) Since I was a good little patient, I never questioned or complained about my meals.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
Unless they are on a caffeine free diet as ordered by the physician, I will not withhold the pitiful excuse for coffee that we serve. The 8oz. cup isn't going to make too much of a difference to a stable, tele patient who has been drinking that same cup of coffee in the morning for most of their adult lives. A double espresso from Starbucks is another story though!

If the patient is so unstable that a cup of coffee will put them into a dangerous heart rhythm, they should be on a caffeine free diet - at the very least!

Blee

1 cup of drip coffee is higher in caffeine than a shot of espresso, did you know that?

Drip 115-175 Espresso 100 1 serving (1-2oz) Brewed 80-135

Link to Coffee and Caffeine FAQ

http://coffeefaq.com/site/node/18

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Specializes in Cardiology, Oncology, Medsurge.

if my tele patient is wanting coffee and is not on fluid restriction, is not set up for a persantine thalmun stress test,and is a coffee drinker on a regular basis. why heck, i'll give them coffee and for the most part no one has gone into vtach yet! now, if i have an obnoxious patient who spends all night wanting this and wanting that...that's when the decaf comes in very handy!

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In our hospital, we allow only decaf. but, sometimes depending on the circumstance and what condition the pt is in, we will give 1/2 decaf and 1/2 reg if the docs okay it. Plus.. you know as soon as they get out, they're going straight to the coffee shop.

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Unless there is a medical reason not to, I would not deny a patient the comfort of their favorite hot drinks.

Here in North Carolina, iced tea is the default drink on meal trays.

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