Recently released recommendations for detection and documentation of malnutrition in adults in clinical practice define 3 types of malnutrition: starvation related, acute disease or injury related, and chronic disease related. The first 2 are more easily recognized, but the third may be more often unnoticed, particularly in obese patients. Critical care patients tend to be at high risk for malnutrition and thus require a thorough nutritional assessment. Compared with patients of earlier times, intensive care unit patients today tend to be older, have more complex medical and comorbid conditions, and often are obese. Missed or delayed detection of malnutrition in these patients may contribute to increases in hospital morbidity and longer hospital stays. Critical care nurses are in a prime position to screen patients at risk for malnutrition and to work with members of the interprofessional team in implementing nutritional intervention plans.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
1 August 2015
Feature|
August 01 2015
New Guidelines for Assessment of Malnutrition in Adults: Obese Critically Ill Patients
Kasuen Mauldin, PhD, RD;
Kasuen Mauldin is an assistant professor of nutrition, Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Packaging, San Jose State University, San Jose, California.
Corresponding author: Kasuen Mauldin, phd, rd, Department of Nutrition, Food Science, and Packaging, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, California 95192-0058 (e-mail: [email protected]).
Search for other works by this author on:
Colleen O’Leary-Kelley, RN, PhD
Colleen O’Leary-Kelley, RN, PhD
Colleen O’Leary-Kelley is a professor, Valley Foundation School of Nursing, and director of the clinical simulation laboratory, San Jose State University.
Search for other works by this author on:
Crit Care Nurse (2015) 35 (4): 24–30.
Citation
Kasuen Mauldin, Colleen O’Leary-Kelley; New Guidelines for Assessment of Malnutrition in Adults: Obese Critically Ill Patients. Crit Care Nurse 1 August 2015; 35 (4): 24–30. doi: https://doi.org/10.4037/ccn2015886
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Short-term Access
Purchase short-term access on a pay-per-article or pay-per-issue basis.
$15 72 - hour single article access $30 7 - day full issue access