Nurses' attitudes toward nutritional care in medical and surgical units: A multicenter cross-sectional analysis

Objective The aim of this study was to compare nurses' attitudes and practices regarding the nutrition of patients in medical and surgical units. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted among 282 nurses in acute care hospitals, including 180 nurses in medical and 102 in surgical units. A convenience sampling method was used for data collection between June 2024 and September 2024. Nurses’ attitudes toward nutrition were assessed using the validated Italian version of the Staff Attitudes to Nutritional Nursing Geriatric Care (SANN-G) scale. An inferential analysis has been performed. Results Most nurses exhibited neutral or negative attitudes toward nutrition. Only 3.2% of nurses demonstrated a positive attitude. Significant differences emerged in the specific attitude dimensions between medical and surgical units, with nurses in surgical units reporting higher scores toward nutritional care than those in medical units (P = 0.029). Regression analysis showed that working in the surgical unit was associated with higher scores on the SANN-G scale (P = 0.042), while having received training in nutrition was associated with higher scores (P = 0.004). Conclusion Malnutrition in hospitalized patients, particularly older adults, is a critical issue requiring a comprehensive approach that includes nutritional assessment, dietary education, and individualized dietary plans, with active involvement of family members and caregivers. Targeted nutrition training programs should be integrated into continuing education for nurses to enhance their role in nutritional care and improve patient outcomes.