Role of Nurses in Nutrition Care in Hospitals in Srinagar City (Jammu and Kashmir, India)

Abstract

The nurse is the hub of all activities in a hospital, centered on the patient, who makes the patient get more individualised care. The present study was carried out in hospitals of Srinagar city (Jammu and Kashmir) to know the role of nurses in nutrition care of patients. A total of 11 hospitals registered under the Directorate of health services (Srinagar) capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India were included in the study. Hospitals were coded as (H1- H11) in order to maintain confidentiality. Data was collected using interview schedule through observation and discussion as well. The sample consisted of 62 nurses, representing 2% from each hospital. It involved gathering of both qualitative and quantitative data. A scoring pattern was formed to evaluate the nutrition care of patients by nurses. Senior staff nurses were interviewed taken from each hospital. Recommendations were developed after the conclusion was derived from the study. Results revealed that it was seen that most of the hospitals, nurses assisted patients only when the patient asked for help at meal time. Patients were not monitored by nurses at meal times and they were looked after by their own attendants. The nurses did not feel that it was their responsibility to ensure or oversee meal service. They responded that this was the job of stewards or delivery boys. It appeared that assisting patients for meals was not considered a major responsibility of nurses and this task was mostly left to the patients’ attendants. Only at H7, nurses performed their role in nutrition care. At most of the hospitals, patients’ food intake was overseen by their attendants as indicated by 97% nurses. The scoring pattern revealed that out of 11 hospitals, nurses at H7 were performing most jobs for patient’s nutrition care and thus received a score of 2. In all other hospitals, a score of 0 was received as nurses were found to be involved only to a minimal extent, if at all, with nutrition care of patients, indicating that their involvement needs to be increased to improve the quality of care. It involved gathering of both qualitative and quantitative data. A scoring pattern was formed to evaluate the nutrition care of patients by nurses. Senior staff nurses were interviewed taken from each hospital. Recommendations were developed after the conclusion was derived from the study. They were however convinced of the need for implementing the recommendation and expressed that they would attempt to bring out the changes such as having a dietetic department and dieticians in hospitals.