Category: Clinical skills

Did you know that intravenous dextrose provides 3.4 kilocalories per gram, not the standard 4 found in dietary carbohydrates? This distinction is critical for accurately planning a patient's nutritional support, making it essential to understand how to calculate calories from IV dextrose.

According to research, poor nutritional status can lead to longer hospital stays and increased morbidity, making proper nursing diagnosis crucial. A nursing diagnosis for imbalanced nutrition is a clinical judgment that describes a patient's nutritional problem and serves as the foundation for a comprehensive nursing care plan.

Studies show a significant risk of infection, especially catheter-related bloodstream infections, in patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). When caring for a client who is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN), assessing for life-threatening complications is a critical nursing responsibility.