[Dysphagia] nursing screening for dysphagia triage

[cclikes at yahoo.com (Creighton Likes)]

Robyn,
We have developed a RN Dysphagia Screen to be completed on admission for all stroke patients.  This helps ensure appropriate SLP consults, ensures the patients who are at risk for aspiration are not given anything PO (food/liquid/meds), and helps the nurse feel comfortable giving PO meds or food/liquid (if the patient "passes" the screen and a diet was ordered).  We (the SLP's) can view this screen before we evaluate the patient and that helps us with our evaluation. So far it has been working well. It has opened doors for communication between the RN's and SLP's re: dysphagia and they appear to understand dysphagia a little better.  We educated all Neuro RN's with mandatory educational sessions and we are getting ready to roll it out across all nursing units (right now it is only on our stroke floor and Neuro-ICU).  I have attached a copy of our computer form for the dysphagia screen.  Let me know if you want any other information. 
Christa P. Likes, MSR, CCC-SLP
Spartanburg Regional Hospital
Spartanburg, SC



		
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