Introduction
Nutrition imbalance less than body requirements is a disorder of nutrition in which intake does not suffice for metabolic demands, resulting in undernutrition.
Assessment
Signs and Symptoms: Poor intake, fatigue, depression, hair loss, dry skin, decrease muscle strength, inability to concentrate, apathy, malnutrition and delayed physical development.
Nursing Diagnosis
Imbalanced Nutrition: Less Than Body Requirements related to inadequate oral intake as evidenced by poor food intake.
Outcomes
Patient will: attain an acceptable level of nutritional health, demonstrate appropriate food selection, maintain or improve activity tolerance, consume adequate amounts of food to meet metabolic needs and maintain body weight.
Interventions
Detection and evaluation of the need for nutrition support, interventions for decreasing malabsorption, counseling regarding dietary modifications, and promotion of healthy food choices.
Rationales
It requires knowledgeable nurses using the nursing process to provide appropriate patient care, including nutrition education and advice, early detection of nutrition imbalances, identification of risk factors, monitoring of nutrition intake, and evaluation of patient outcomes.
Evaluation
Assess patient understanding of diet, support staff collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, initiate necessary referrals, and counsel patient and family regarding meal planning, food preparation, food safety, and failure to thrive.
Conclusion
It is essential for healthcare professionals to provide safe and evidence-based care to patients diagnosed with nutrition imbalances. Nurses can play a vital role in the assessment, prevention and treatment of such disorders by incorporating comprehensive nutrition care plans into the patient's care plan.
FAQs
- What are the signs and symptoms of a nutrition imbalance? Poor intake, fatigue, depression, hair loss, dry skin, decrease muscle strength, inability to concentrate, apathy, malnutrition and delayed physical development.
- How is nutrition imbalance assessed? Nutrition imbalances must be assessed primarily through a combination of patient records and plate observation. Other measures include anthropometric, biochemical, clinical and dietary assessments.
- What interventions are used to treat nutrition imbalances? Interventions for nutrition imbalances include detection and evaluation of the need for nutrition support, interventions for decreasing malabsorption, counseling regarding dietary modifications, and promotion of healthy food choices.
- What is the role of the nurse in treating nutrition imbalances? Nurses play a vital role in the assessment, prevention and treatment of such disorders by incorporating comprehensive nutrition care plans into the patient's care plan.
- What should be considered when evaluating a patient’s nutrition imbalance? Assessment of patient understanding of diet, staff collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, initiation of necessary referrals, and counseling of patient and family regarding meal planning, food preparation, food safety, and failure to thrive.
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