Malnutrition means the body isn’t receiving the right amounts of nutrients. This could mean that a person is getting too much or too little, but overall it’s described as an imbalance of nutrients. (Barker, Gout, & Crowe, 2011) Having malnutrition in the hospital means that the person 's body isn 't getting enough nutrients needed for the body. It can be “caused by not having enough to eat, not eating enough of the right things, or not being able to use the food that one does eat.” (“Malnutrition”, 2016) Having malnutrition in the hospital could result in slow or impaired wound healing, longer hospital stays, increased risk of getting an infection, and higher mortality rates. Nurses must be able to know the signs, symptoms, and background of malnutrition to diagnose it sooner. (Barker, Gout, & Crowe, 2011) This paper will discuss how to calculate calories needed for the patient and discuss what an average healthy diet looks like. The paper will touch on deficiencies one might see in the hospital and how to increase the intake of needed nutrients. The deficiencies include those of vitamins and minerals. This paper will also talk about the physical and social factors influencing malnutrition in the hospital and how to fix them. Lastly, it will discuss the importance health professionals have in treating malnutrition, creating a food plan, and teaching the patient at discharge. To tell if someone is malnourished, one must look at their signs and symptoms. “The American Dietetic Association defines nutrition assessment as ‘a comprehensive approach to defining nutritional status using medical, nutritional, and medication histories; physical examination, anthropometric measurements and laboratory data.’” (Barker, Gout, & Crowe, 2011) Malnutrition can be diagnosed by the three factors of Body Mass Index (BMI), unplanned weight loss, and the presence of disease. (Barker, Gout, & Crowe) The patient’s BMI should be in an acceptable range. They are at risk of malnutrition if their BMI falls below 18.5. If the patient has lost weight, you must calculate the percent weight change. This will determine if there was significant unintentional weight loss. A noted presence of a serious disease contributes to malnutrition also. The disease itself can affect the person’s absorption of nutrients, or the medications one takes can create malabsorption. These screening tools, along with physical signs and symptoms, can determine the presence of malnutrition. Some of the physical signs include, swollen glands of the neck and cheeks, poor or delayed wound healing, abnormal heart rate and blood pressure, muscle wasting, lower extremity edema, etc. (Dudek, 2014, p. 7, 8, & 10) Malnourished patients in the hospital have a whole team of medical personal making plans for them to improve their nutrient levels. Nurses are the first to see the patient, and they are the first to detect if the patient is malnourished. Nurses carry out the nutritional assessment. Once nurses assess for malnutrition and determine the factor or factors causing it, they work with the patient and their team of healthcare professionals to develop a plan. (Barker, Gout, & Crowe) This nutrition plan must include outcomes and goals that are reasonable and suited for the patient. The health professionals come up with a food plan tailored for
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Potassium is a mineral people most commonly don’t get enough of. If a patient is deficient in potassium, they may have muscular weakness, paralysis, confusion, or anorexia. A good way to increase potassium in a patient’s diet is to feed them food such as, bananas, tomatoes, oranges, or potatoes. Nurses may need to increase the iron in their patient’s diet if they are anemic. Iron rich foods include meat, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts, grains, and vegetables. (Dudek, 2014, p. 131 & 140)
Deficiencies are a major factor in malnutrition, but physical disabilities play a big part too. People who have physical obstacles to eating include, those who have denture problems, those who have neurological conditions where they can’t chew or swallow, and those who have a feeding tube. (“Meals, Nutrition, and Feding, 2015) For them to get the proper amount of nutrients, one must specify they’re eating plan. Limit foods to soft or liquid form. One could also give them supplements to increase their nutrient intake. The IV can give their body nutrients right through to the
Potassium is a mineral people most commonly don’t get enough of. If a patient is deficient in potassium, they may have muscular weakness, paralysis, confusion, or anorexia. A good way to increase potassium in a patient’s diet is to feed them food such as, bananas, tomatoes, oranges, or potatoes. Nurses may need to increase the iron in their patient’s diet if they are anemic. Iron rich foods include meat, fish, poultry, legumes, nuts, grains, and vegetables. (Dudek, 2014, p. 131 & 140)
Deficiencies are a major factor in malnutrition, but physical disabilities play a big part too. People who have physical obstacles to eating include, those who have denture problems, those who have neurological conditions where they can’t chew or swallow, and those who have a feeding tube. (“Meals, Nutrition, and Feding, 2015) For them to get the proper amount of nutrients, one must specify they’re eating plan. Limit foods to soft or liquid form. One could also give them supplements to increase their nutrient intake. The IV can give their body nutrients right through to the