Screen a swallow with the Yale protocol

Practice the Yale Swallow Protocol order from speech-pathology / nursing training. Thin liquids and a meal are not given until the brief cognitive screen, oral-mechanism items, and the 3-ounce water trial pass.

1. Confirm the patient is alert enough for the screen.
2. Complete the brief cognitive items.
3. Complete the oral-mechanism items.
4. Sit the patient upright as trained.
5. Give the uninterrupted 3-ounce water trial as trained.
6. Stop immediately for cough, wet voice, or inability to finish.
7. If the trial fails, keep the patient NPO and refer to the SLP.
8. Do not ‘try a sip of juice’ after a failed water trial.