Tag: Nursing assessment

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and nutrients. A nurse reviewing patient lab work is a critical step in a thorough nutritional assessment, and certain values provide rapid insight into a patient's nutritional status.

Over one-third of mechanically ventilated patients experience enteral feeding intolerance, according to some studies. Recognizing the signs that a patient is not tolerating enteral feedings quizlet can help healthcare providers and caregivers intervene promptly, ensuring the patient's safety and nutritional needs are met.

According to a study cited by the National Institutes of Health, unintentional underreporting is one of the key challenges in dietary assessment surveys that rely on the multiple-pass 24-hour recall method. A nurse uses a structured interview to capture detailed information about everything a patient ate and drank over the last day.

According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to both hematologic and neurological symptoms. A nurse assessing a patient would expect to find a range of symptoms, including fatigue and a smooth, red tongue, which are common indicators of a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Studies indicate that patients receiving Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) are at a significant risk for complications such as infection and metabolic instability. This makes understanding what is the priority assessment for TPN a crucial skill for all healthcare providers to ensure patient safety and optimize outcomes.

According to a 2018 review in the journal *Nutrients*, while severe vitamin toxicity is rare, it is most often caused by excessive intake from supplements, particularly the fat-soluble vitamins A and D. Nurses play a critical role in identifying the subtle and overt signs of hypervitaminosis through a thorough and systematic assessment.

According to a 2025 Medscape review, protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) can lead to fluid retention in tissues, resulting in edema. Therefore, assessing for edema is a critical finding for nurses to report to a provider as a potential indication of protein deficiency.

According to the World Health Organization, malnutrition is a significant public health issue globally, affecting all age groups and leading to increased morbidity and mortality. For nurses, accurately identifying and formulating a nursing diagnosis for malnutrition is a critical step in the patient care process.

Research indicates that integrating nutritional support can significantly improve patient outcomes, enhance immune function, and reduce recovery times. For nurses, understanding and applying the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) is a standardized, evidence-based approach to ensure high-quality, patient-centered nutritional care.

According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, malnutrition affects approximately 30-50% of hospitalized patients. This critical issue underscores the importance of knowing how a nurse can screen a person's nutritional status to facilitate timely intervention and improve patient outcomes.