Nutritional care is the process of providing people with the nutrients they need to maintain good health. It can be done through diet, supplementation, or a combination of the two.
The goals of nutritional care are to:
Nutritional care is important for everyone, but it is especially important for people who are at risk of malnutrition, such as:
Nutritional care can be provided by a variety of healthcare professionals, including registered dietitians, nurses, and doctors.
In nursing, nutritional care is an important part of the overall care plan. Nurses assess patients’ nutritional needs, provide dietary counseling, and monitor patients’ nutritional status. They also work with other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients receive the nutrition they need to recover from illness or surgery and maintain good health.
The Nutrition Care Process (NCP) is a systematic method that dietetics and nutrition professionals use to provide nutrition care. It is a four-step process:
The NCP is a dynamic process that is tailored to the individual patient’s needs. It can be used to address a variety of nutrition problems, from mild nutrient deficiencies to severe malnutrition.
If you are concerned about your nutritional status, or if you are a healthcare professional who is providing nutritional care to a patient, I recommend that you consult with a registered dietitian. They can help you develop a personalized nutrition plan that meets your individual needs.