Home Health Nurses’ Perceptions of Nutrition Services Needs in Home Health Care

Abstract

LEARNING OUTCOME: To assess perceptions of home health nurses regarding need and value of nutrition services in home health care and their ability to deliver nutrition care to patientsNutrition services in home health care promote optimal health and well-being of patients, and provide a treatment modality for a variety of conditions. Most home health care agencies provide nutritional services through their nursing department due to lack of reimbursement for registered dietitians’ home visits to clients. Home health nurses responded to open-ended questions on the adequacy of their training and support materials and services provided them for delivering nutrition care to patients, and on needs for nutrition services in home health. Sixty-six nurses representing the 31 agency members of the state Association for Home Care in a southeastern state responded to the mail questionnaire. Seventy percent of respondents were employed in an agency that did not have a registered dietitian on staff. The majority of respondents indicated they felt comfortable providing nutrition counseling to clients only if appropriate educational support materials were provided to them, if a registered dietitian were available for consultation, and if the nutrition counseling required was simple and basic. Educational support materials needed included sample diets, updated references on nutrition care and nutrition education resources for illiterate patients and patients with impaired vision. Seventy-three percent of nurses responding indicated that a registered dietitian involved in direct patient home care and education would be very beneficial, with particular needs associated with nutrition assessment and recommendation of nutrition care plans for patients.