Dysphagia training for nurses in an acute hospital setting--a pragmatic approach

Dysphagia assessment and management has significant impact on speech and language therapy (SLT) resources. Recent reports have highlighted nurses' role in the nutrition of their patients. In order to focus SLT input efficiently and effectively and to improve nurse confidence in management of patients with swallowing problems, a dysphagia screening test (DST) was devised for use by nurses within an acute teaching hospital setting. This has since been used for training SLT students and junior doctors.