Nutrition Intervention
Key Points
- Nutrition Intervention is the third step in the Nutrition Care Process.
- Nutrition Intervention is customized to meet the unique needs of the client.
- The Nutrition Intervention is driven by the Nutrition Assessment and Diagnosis steps, and it is used to resolve a problem by altering or eliminating the root cause of the nutrition diagnosis, also known as the etiology.
- Nutrition Intervention requires planning and implementation (action), and both phases use defined nutrition intervention terminology.
There are two phases in the Nutrition Intervention step:
Planning phase:
The RDN collaborates with clients to identify goals of the intervention and expected outcomes; prioritize the nutrition interventions based on client preference, urgency, impact potential and available resources; writes a Nutrition Prescription; determines a specific, science-based nutrition intervention strategy; and defines time and frequency of care.
Implementing phase:
The RDN collaborate with the client to carry out the plan of care, individualizes the plan, communicates the plan of nutrition care, modifies the plan of care as needed and continues data collection, follows up to verify that the plan is being implemented, and revises strategies based on changes in condition or response to intervention.
Nutrition Intervention Terminology
Nutrition intervention terminology is categorized into the following domains:
The Nutrition Intervention planning terms:
- Goal Planning contains terminology that can be used to customize the nutrition professional’s approach to a desired nutrition outcome.
- Prescription Planning includes terminology that can be used to customize the approach to care recommendations by the nutrition professional.
The Nutrition Intervention implementation terms:
- Food and/or Nutrient Delivery includes nutrition intervention terms that describe the customized food and/or nutrient approach for a client.
- Nutrition Education addresses either a new knowledge requirement or knowledge deficit.
- Nutrition Counseling interventions are used to create priorities, goals, and individualized action plans through a collaborative counselor–client relationship.
- Coordination of Nutrition Care is related to referral or coordination of nutrition care with other healthcare providers, institutions or agencies that can assist in treating or managing nutrition-related problems.
- Population-Based Nutrition Action contains interventions designed to improve the nutritional well-being of a population.
- Nutrition Intervention Encounter Context includes terminology that describes the environment where the nutrition care is provided, such as an inpatient, community health, or home health setting, and the method for the provision of care, such as an individual or group approach.
When documenting the nutrition intervention, keep the following questions in mind:
- Are the goals identified and SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time defined)?
- Do the goals consider client needs and values?
- Is the nutrition prescription written to help achieve client goals?
- Is the nutrition intervention directed at changing the etiology of the PES statement?
Nutrition Intervention Critical Thinking
Identify client and professional goals. Consider urgency and resources to establish the plan of action.
Examples: Client desires way to include favorite foods within nutrition prescription. Guidelines help drive nutrition support initiation.
Create the tailored recommended intake prescription considering client’s values, nutrition diagnoses, evidenced based guidelines.
Example: 750 mL, 1kcal/mL enteral feeding at night and general diet during day.
Advise team members of nutrition findings and collaborate with them and client to determine care.
Examples: Review nutrition workflow and how data is communicated to the team. Evaluate nutrition involvement in discharge planning.
Engage client in care plan development, to address their priorities. Provide reason(s) for nutrition care priorities.
Example: Offer motivational interviewing to move client from precontemplation to contemplation stage of change.
Care approaches, population settings and client wants and needs impact the timing of care.
Examples: Outpatient diabetes nutrition care scheduled considering overall team care and client schedule. Hemoglobin A1C checked every 3 months initially to assess care impact.
Visit the Academy's eNCPT for additional training and subscription information for using the terminology in Electronic Health Record (EHR) or Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems.
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