Nurses in detention facilities sometimes encounter patients who stop eating or drinking to reach a goal, because of mental illness, or for religious reasons. This session will review evidence-based research related to hunger strikes, refeeding syndrome, and force feeding by NG tube. Attendees will learn about the role of the nurse, patient education, and common labs of concern for patients on hunger strikes.

Educational Objectives

• Summarize the current understanding of hunger strikes, force feeding by NG tube, and refeeding syndrome
• Review the role of the nurse clinician and interventions with patients on hunger strikes
• Recognize abnormal lab values and objective assessment findings related to patients on hunger strikes

Level: Basic