Enteral & Parenteral Nutrition Flashcards
Which patient has a higher risk for malnourishment - a mobile patient or one on bedrest?
- patient on bedrest
- often more ill
- decreased appetite because less energy expenditure
What type of diet should a patient with renal failure adopt?
Low protein; easier on kidneys
What is malnutrition?
- Includes both the deficiency or excess or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients
1) Under-nutrition resulting from insufficient food intake
2) Over-nutrition caused by excessive food intake
3) Specific nutrient deficiencies
4) Imbalance due to disproportionate food intake
Those who are malnourished are 2x more likely to…
Develop a pressure ulcer
What percentage of malnutrition is disease-related?
76%
T or F: malnourished patients are more likely to die in hospital
True; 7.4x more likely
T or F: malnourished patients are more likely to be readmitted
True; 1.6x higher odds
Malnutrition is associated with an increased risk of….
- morbidity in acute and chronic diseases
- infections
- post-op complications
- mortality
- pressure wound ulcers
- poor wound healing
- delayed functional improvement
- increased length of stay
- increased readmission rates
- delay in the initiation of adjunctive treatment
What is one of the best indicators of malnutrition risk?
Involuntary weight loss of 10% of usual body weight preceding 6 months of hospital admission
What 4 basic questions can nurses ask upon admission for the early identification of nutritional risk?
In order of importance:
- Have you lost weight in the past 6 months?
- If yes, how much weight have you lost and over what time frame?
- What is your current weight?
- What is your height?
What 2 questions does the Canadian Nutrition Screening Tool?
- Have you lost weight in the past 6 months without trying?
2. Have you been eating less than usual for more than a week?
What is the cause of malnutrition in the hospital?
- in developed countries, the cause is disease not starvation
- pro-inflammatory effect of illness is the culprit
- any disease has the potential to cause malnutrition: response to trauma, infection or inflammation may alter metabolism, appetite, absorption or assimilation of nutrients
- poor intake in hospital also due to organizational or patient factors
What are 8 organizational factors that result in poor intake?
- lack of nutrition awareness by HCPs and patients
- inappropriate NPO status
- multiple medical tests requiring fasted states
- unprotected meal times (diagnostics, visitors, transfers) – staff may forget to give food to patient when meal is missed
- adverse hospital smells and noises
- lack of assistance at meals
- food services issues (unpalatable food, cold food, selective options)
- lack of nutritious food options outside of meal times
What are patient factors that result in poor intake?
- illness effects (poor appetite, too sick, tired, or in pain)
- eating difficulties (cannot open or unwrap food, uncomfortable position, difficulty reaching food, difficulty chewing and swallowing)
Who is responsible for the nutritional health of hospitalized patients?
All health care employees
What are the 3 categories of clinical nutrition interventions?
1) Oral route
2) Enteral nutrition (tube feeding)
3) Parenteral nutrition (IV or total parenteral nutrition)
What are 3 interventions for the oral nutrition?
- optimize oral intake (snacks and preferences)
- food fortification (costly, unpalatable)
- oral nutrition supplementation (effective and cost friendly)
What are the indications for oral nutrition intervention?
- consistent with medical and patient’s goals
- inadequate oral intake to meet nutrient needs
- functional gastrointestinal tract
- safe functional swallow
What is automatic nutrition supplementation?
- all patients admitted to medical floor > 65 yo receive Ensure meal trays
- cost benefit and reduces length of stay and readmission rate
What is the benefit of adding nutrition supplementation to malnourished patients?
- increased QoL, reduced infections, decreased length os stay, fewer pressure ulcers
- patients identified at risk by screening tool in ER, received Ensure plus or Glucerna on meal trays automatically
Can nurses make a difference?
- consumption of 50-65% of meals and supplements can halt or minimize the catastrophic effects of hospital malnutrition
- can encourage, emphasize, and reinforce the importance of nutrition
How can nurses promote oral supplement compliance?
- encourage sampling of different flavours
- serve cold or with ice
- if nausea too strong or odours are an issue, serve with a lid and straw
- keep within patient’s reach
- encourage sips
- watch your facial expression
What is enteral nutrition?
Delivery of nutrients to the gastrointestinal tract via a tube
What are the indications for enteral nutrition?
- consistent with medical and patient goals
- oral intake is deemed unsafe, inadequate, or impossible to meet nutrient needs
- functional gastrointestinal tract
- accessible gastrointestinal tract