IMPORTANT NOTE: This course is not available on the DiscoverNUTRITION website. Click here to register for and complete this course.

Appropriate nutrition support therapy in critically ill patients may positively affect patient outcomes. In this module, you will learn current standards of care for managing critically ill patients with moderate to severe nutritional risk.

Malnutrition is a common condition, affecting up to 67% of hospitalized adults in the United States.  It is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, longer hospital stays, and higher readmission rates.  Detecting and treating malnutrition has been shown to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

This module reviews the fundamentals of the physician nutrition evaluation and the management of malnutrition.

Learning Objectives

• Identify the clinical issues involved with the physician nutritional evaluation, including determination of nutritional risk, assessment of nutritional status, and analysis of body composition;
• Calculate energy and protein needs and assess risk of refeeding syndrome;
• Describe which parameters should be monitored as nutritional therapy is initiated;
• Identify the limited value of certain traditional surrogate markers of nutritional status and adequacy of nutritional therapy.

To receive course credit, complete the interactive case study; review the clinical guidelines, references and resources; and take the Physician Nutrition Evaluation Quiz.