Descriptor 2: Rendering oral care
Oral care was identified by the participants of this study as an aspect of physical care that should be rendered to critically ill patients. Giving oral care not only affords physical comfort for patients, but is also a means for the nurse to assess the condition of the oral cavity. Roy (2009, p. 134) said, ‘Appraisal of the oral cavity, that is, the lips, teeth, gums, and tongue
is useful in determining the individual’s nutritional health and in identifying deficiencies’. One nurse who values oral care on her patients reflected on her personal and professional experiences on this aspect of care when she said: