ARTICLE CRITIQUE: NUTRITION AND HEALING
Hughes, S. (2003). Nutrition and healing. Journal of Community Health Nursing, 17(4), 22-26.
In this article, Sara-Jane Hughes dietitian, discuses the importance of nutrition for wound healing. Hughes is a Senior Dietitian at the Royal Hospitals Trust in Belfast. Specifically, Hughes discusses several outcomes (e.g., decreased risk of infection, speedier healing, cost savings) associated with optimal nutritional intake.
This article has more strengths than weaknesses It's strengths include a comprehensive review of the literature on the topic and sound, clear writing skills. All of the literature cited is from well-respected peer-reviewed journals. The conclusions that are formulated on the basis of the reviewed literature are grounded in the literature itself and do not jump from the existing research into wild and unsupported speculation. Further, the article also provides clear criteria for when a wound victim should be referred to a dietitian.
The primary weakness with the article is that Hughes (2003) attempts to cover several facets of nutrition with the result that each facet is given rather short shrift. For example, the article discusses a large variety of vitamins and minerals needed and why they are needed as it relates to wound healing. However, the coverage is basically only a few sentences while each is a substantial topic that has a great deal of nutritional and healing literature associated with it.
Significance For Community Health Nursing
Most of the implications of the article for Community Health Nursing are covered by Hughes (2003) herself. First, it provides nurses with an often overlooked means of facilitating recovery in the community.
Second, as noted in the article, if detected and treated, malnutrition can save health care costs and patient suffering as it speeds up healing and reduces the need for certain medications. Third, the article pro...