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On the ward

Arriving on the ward

Once you are cleared to start as a volunteer and have completed your three competencies with your Dining Companion Coordinator you will be able to complete your volunteering duties without support from your coordinator.

When you arrive at the ward, you will be required to sign in. The signing in sheet is in a yellow folder which will be shown to you during your first induction to the ward. After signing in go to the nurse’s station. Explain you are a Dining Companion and ask to speak to the nurse in charge to identify which patient will require your support that mealtime.

The nurse will be able to tell you which patients need help and inform you if there is anything you need to know about that patient which will help you whilst supporting your patient.

For example, is this a patient living with dementia? Does this patient require a modified meal or have they been low in mood recently, so will require extra support and encouragement. Once you have your information, locate the bay area and bed number your patient is in. Introduce yourself and explain to the patient you will be supporting them with their meal today.

Patient’s Bedside Board bedboard.PNG 

When you have located your patient make sure you take the time to have a look at the patient’s bedside board. This will have key information such as what name the patient would prefer to be called.

The board will also have symbols to identify risks to the patient, such as falls risk or identifying that the patient has a cognitive impairment.

During your local induction with the Dining Companion Coordinator, they will explain what these symbols mean in more detail. 

The board will also have an area for the patient to tell us ‘What matters most to me today’ This gives them an opportunity to tell us what is important to them. Sometimes it’s the smallest details that make the biggest difference and have a real impact on their care and recovery. 

 

Infection Control

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Any patient requiring enhanced Infection Control precautions for any infection or suspected infection or infection risk (e.g., Neutropenic patients requiring protective isolation) should have an orange triangle placed ticked on the bed board, they will also have an orange name band put on their wrist.

 

Pressure Area Safety Alert

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Patient has a PURPOSE T risk assessment decision/result of Red- indicating Pressure Ulcer Category 1 or above or scarring from a previous Ulcer. Amber - No pressure ulcer but at risk. 

Falls Risk Alert

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Patient is highlighted as increased risk of falls from their falls risk assessment.

Bed Rails Required

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Patient has been assessed via their bedrail risk assessments as needing the bedrails up.

Enhanced Patient Observation 

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Enhanced Patient Observation risk assessment has been completed and a level of care is needed to be in place e.g. Sensor mats, Bay-tagging, 1:1.

The Blue Flag

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Highlights the person (patient) has a cognitive impairment. The symbol must be used as a tool in a wider care response and not solely for identifying a condition, staff must seek out individual patient information from the team caring for the patient or relevant care plan/documentation.

Diabetes Alert

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Identifies people with diabetes. They need to have blood glucose monitoring as per Trust protocol, diabetes medication given at time prescribed (insulin is a time-sensitive medication), diet needs to be considered e.g., no added sugar to drinks.

Nil By Mouth

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Patients shouldn’t eat or drink while this symbol is highlighted.

Nutrition Support

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Used to highlight Patients who are on the high-risk malnutrition care plan that need intake monitoring, additional snacks and / or may need assistance /support at mealtimes. This can also be used to highlight patients who need nutrition support via alternative routes e.g. NG, PEGS, PN

Modified Fluids/Diet

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Used to highlight patients who have an oro-pharyngeal dysphagia and require modified consistencies of diet and or fluids, to reduce the risk of aspiration. This will include any amount of oral intake of a modified consistency, including oral trials. The symbol will be a marker to alert staff to an eating and drinking care plan that will be in the patient’s bedside folder.

The Learning Disability Symbol 

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The patient has a diagnosed learning disability – Learning disability maybe established based on past hospital records GP records or patient/carer reporting. The patient should have a hospital passport, learning disability care plan.

Breast Feeding 

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Mother may require support with breastfeeding. Mother will be provided with food whilst an inpatient. Mother may have the curtains around whilst feeding to support dignity.

Symbols Not Used On Bed Boards

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The patient is believed to be entering the dying phase of life - The Swan symbol is placed on the door or curtain of the bay/room in which the patient/family is being nursed/supported.

 

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