If you work as a home health aide your job includes many things. You may be responsible in preparing healthy food for your client.
You need to be knowledgeable in choosing nutritious food so that your client can stay healthy or recover from his / her illness. Nutrition is very important for health maintenance and healing.
Nursing Assistant Skill Scenario: Diabetic Basic Nutrition
Our nursing assistant online class teacher is giving us this scenario for us to discuss: “Basic Nutrition for Wound Healing for a Diabetic“.
Read the scenario below. . .
Mrs. Elizabeth Barker, a 67-year-old patient with poorly controlled diabetes has been discharged from the hospital to her home following surgery to remove the toes of her right foot.
You are the home health aide assigned to care for her on a daily basis. You are to help her with her personal hygiene and grooming, and you are to prepare her lunch.
Mrs. Barker has open wounds at the amputation sites that are slow to heal, and the nurse comes every morning to do a dressing change.
1. What nutrients would Mrs. Barker require that specifically aid in the healing of her incisional wounds?
2. Keeping these nutritional needs in mind, what foods would you consider including in her lunch?
Response and Discussion
Here are my responses to the scenario. . .
1. What nutrients would Mrs. Barker require that specifically aid in the healing of her incisional wounds?
Mrs. Barkers needs the following nutrients:
- Vitamin A keeps the skin healthy
- Vitamin C assists with healing wounds
- Protein is essential for tissue growth and repair
- Fats: low-fat foods; monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats (decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes)
- Minerals – Chromium is very helpful for people with diabetes (good source: whole grain products); calcium, potassium, phosphorous – needed for heart and nerve function.
- Carbohydrates – foods with high fiber help stabilize the blood sugar.
- Water – assists in digestion and absorption of food.
2. Keeping these nutritional needs in mind, what foods would you consider including in her lunch?
I would check her care plan and see what the dietician has required for her to eat.
Here’s my idea for her lunch:
Beverage: Low-fat milk (0% or 1%)
Side salad: dark green leafy vegetables, cut-up yellow peppers, chopped nuts, olives, avocado, low-fat dressing
Sandwich: whole grain bread, plant-based burger, low-fat cheese, low-fat mayo, ketchup, slice of tomato, lettuce leaf
Dessert: Greek Yogurt (Blueberry)