Tips that Nurses Would Have for Patients about Sodium Consumption

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Being a nurse is an important task. Taking care of patients and their needs is complex and stressful at times. Having the communication skills to talk to all kinds of different personalities and the people behind them is challenging. There are many things that patients need to pay attention to, such as nutrition and after treatment care. In order to better the patient’s quality of life, a nurse will sometimes have to talk to patients about their conditions and the best way to prevent risks.

Nursing Tips on Sodium Consumption

Consuming too much sodium can be detrimental to our health. It raises blood pressure, aggravates liver conditions, and causes the body fluid retention. Having the right balance of sodium and water is very beneficial, but many of us have been told to reduce or eliminate sodium or salt intake all together. When the healthcare professionals talk to patients about nutrition and keeping our bodies healthy, there are sometimes restrictions and things that the patient should not have for health reasons.

When talking to the patient, first have a calm and firm demeanor. Speak clearly and clearly answer all questions in a way that the patient can understand. According to the American Heart Association, too much sodium can cause damage to the heart and vessels, cause high blood pressure, and cause more damage to the liver. If a patient already has a liver condition, high salt intake will make it worse. There are many foods that have natural levels of sodium in them that will many times exceed the levels we need.

One teaspoon of salt contains 2,300mg of sodium, but our bodies only need 200mg per day. On average, we are consuming way more than we actually need, putting our bodies at a higher risk of stroke and heart attacks along with other conditions. Be sure you make patients aware of the risks and what too much sodium consumption can do to their bodies.

Nursing Tips on Communication

Nurses tips on speaking with patients and their family members includes the necessity of being very clear and ensuring you speak in a way that patients can understand. Sometime breaking things down into “layman’s terms” can be tricky, but patients need to understand why they are being told to change their eating habits and what could happen if they don’t. Be sure to talk with family members and ensure they too understand what needs to happen and why. You could be saving a life. Explain how to find the sodium levels on food labels and help educate them, so they can help themselves better their quality of life.

Eating a healthy and nutrition filled diet is hard when you are raised on portions that are 4 times the size of what they should be. If patients come from a family that normally uses a lot of salt and seasonings; they are most likely not aware of additives that can be dangerous to our overall health. They can also talk to a nutritionist to help them along. This is important training for you to cover as you begin a nursing career.