Nutrition in Health Care
    Nutrition & Diet Therapy (7th Edition)
       Effects of Illness on Nutrition 
                            Status
     • Relationship between nutrition & illness is 
       complex
        – Medical problems can alter nutrient needs & result in 
          malnutrition
           • Reduction in food intake
           • Interference with digestion & absorption
           • Alteration of nutrient metabolism & excretion
           • Increase metabolic stress & energy needs
        – Poor nutrition can affect course of disease & body’s 
          response to treatment
     • Dietary changes required for acute illness usually 
       temporary; chronic illnesses may require long-
       term dietary modification
     Nutrition & Diet Therapy (7th Edition)
      Responsibility for Nutrition 
                            Care
    • Cooperative effort of       • Physician—prescribes 
       multidisciplinary             diet orders & other 
       health care team              aspects of nutrition 
        – Critical pathways          care
          outline coordinated,    • Nurses, registered 
          comprehensive plan for     dieticians, other 
          specific diagnoses,        health professionals 
          treatments, procedures     identify problems, 
        – Implementation             suggest strategies, 
          requires all members of    provide nutritional 
          team                       services
        – Roles of team members 
          often overlap
    Nutrition & Diet Therapy (7th Edition)
      Responsibility for Nutrition 
                            Care
   • Registered dietitian (RD)
      – Food & nutrition expert
      – Role includes             • Registered dietitian has 
         • Conduct nutrition         academic & professional 
          assessment
         • Diagnose nutritional      requirements to qualify for 
          problems                   RD credential conferred by 
         • Develop, implement &      American Dietetic 
          evaluate nutrition care    Association
          plans                   • Qualifications include
         • Plan & approve menus      – Bachelor’s degree in 
         • Provide nutrition           nutrition or dietetics
          education                  – Supervised internship
         • May manage food 
          services in health care    – Successful completion of 
          institution                  national examination
    Nutrition & Diet Therapy (7th Edition)
         Responsibility for Nutrition 
                                          Care
      • Nurses
           – Interact closely with                • Other health professionals
              patients                                 – Include
                • Identify those who would                  • Pharmacists
                  require nutrition services                • Physical therapists
                • Screen for nutrition                      • Occupational therapists
                  problems; participate in 
                  nutrition assessments                     • Speech therapists
                • Provide direct nutrition care             • Social workers
           – Participate as member of                       • Nursing assistants
              nutrition support team                        • Home health care aides
      • Registered dietetic 
          technicians
           – Work in partnership with 
              registered dietitian
           – Assist in implementation & 
              monitoring of nutrition 
              services
      Nutrition & Diet Therapy (7th Edition)