Dysphagia Management and Nursing

Swallowing is a complex sensorimotor action. The normal swallowing action consists of three stages. A disorder in any phase of swallowing is defined as dysphagia. Dysphagia leads to physiological, psychological and social problems in individuals and negatively affects the quality of life. There are many causes of dysphagia. Poorly managed dysphagia may lead to aspiration pneumonia, malnutrition and unwanted weight loss. Physiological complications lead to repeated hospitalizations, prolonged hospitalization and mortality. Accordingly, this study aimed to review the techniques used in the management of dysphagia and the responsibilities of the nurse. Google Scholar, PubMed and ScienceDirect databases were searched with the keywords: “dysphagia”, “nurse”, “management” based on the dates 2015–2024. In the management of dysphagia, many methods can be applied simultaneously, including postural adjustment, compensatory maneuvers, sensory stimulation method and dietary modifications. The applied methods have some advantages and disadvantages. There are points and recommendations to be considered during the nutrition of individuals with dysphagia. At this point, the nurse should evaluate the patient in detail and plan for individualized care and evaluate the results of the implementation. Nurses have important roles in early diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and prevention of complications of treatment, follow-up and prevention of complications of dysphagia. There is a relationship between the implementation of evidence-based interventions while providing care to individuals with dysphagia and positive health outcomes of individuals. (JNNN 2024;13(4):164–167)