Every patient needs optimal nutrition to achieve their best health outcomes. Unfortunately, malnutrition affects patients across health care settings and is associated with a wide variety of complications during hospitalization. Although nutritional management is often an inter-professional responsibility, nursing is integral to supporting the care team in adhering to nutritional guidelines and implementing evidence into practice, especially while treating complex patients. Through nutritional support, nurses can directly impact patient outcomes.
This is an excerpt from the NTI 2022 presentation “Navigating Nutrition” by Janice M. Powers, PhD, RN, CCRN, CCNS, CNRN, NE-BC. The NTI session is available on the AACN website at https://www.aacn.org/education/ce-activities/nti22270/navigating-nutrition.