Nutritional Status – Nursing is a profession within the healthcare sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other healthcare providers by their approach to patient care, training, and scope of practice. Nurses practice in many specialisms with differing levels of prescriber authority.
Many nurses provide care within the ordering scope of physicians, and this traditional role has shaped the public image of nurses as care providers. However, nurses are permitted by most jurisdictions to practice independently in a variety of settings depending on training level. In the postwar period, nurse education has undergone a process of diversification towards advanced and specialized credentials, and many of the traditional regulations and provider roles are changing.
Nurses develop a plan of care, working collaboratively with physicians, therapists, the patient, the patient’s family, and other team members, that focus on treating illness to improve quality of life. Nurses may help coordinate the patient care performed by other members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team such as therapists, medical practitioners, and dietitians. Nurses provide care both interdependently, for example, with physicians, and independently as nursing professionals.
Nutritional Status
Assessment of the Nutritional Status By-
a. Body mass index (BMI) by Weight & Height measurement
b. Muscle bulk
- Mid Arm circumference
- Calf circumference
c. Skin fold thickness – Over triceps muscle.
d. Waist circumferencemeasured at the level of umbilicus.
(Ref-Davidson’s Medicine 115/22nd+Macleod’s/13th)
Causes of Under Weight/-Gross Weight Loss:
1. Tuberculosis.
2. Thyrotoxicosis
3. Malabsorption syndrome
4. Any malignancy (For elderly age but not early age)
5. Anorexia nervosa.
6. Malnutrition
7. Adrenal insufficiency
(Ref- Kumar & Clark clinical Medicine/8th++Davidson’s Medicine/22nd)
Causes of Obesity:
a. Constitutional obesity – Strong family history
b. Simple obesity-Increased food intake & decreased physical activity
c. Endocrine cause –
- Cushing syndrome
- Hypogonadism
- Hypothyroidism
- Hypopituitarism
- Hypothalamic injury or tumor
- Insulinoma
d. Drugs-
- Steroids (Oral),TCA, beta blocker, sulphonylurea
- Contraceptives & sodium valproate.
(Ref- Kumar & Clark clinical Medicine /8th+Harrison’s internal medicine/19th+ Short case Abdullah Sir/5th +Davidson’s Medicine 117/22nd)
Definition of Decubitus:
Decubitus is the position of the patient in which he/she feels comfortable.
Different Types of Decubitus:
| Decubitus | Description | Interpretation |
| 1. On choice | Patient can lie comfortable in any position. | |
| 2. Propped upposition | Patient feels comfort at sitting or at 45° angle with bed. | Acute left ventricular failure. Acute severe asthma. |
| 3. Mohammedan prayer position. | Patient feels comfort at bending forwards, i.e. knee elbow position. | Acute position. |
| 4. Lateral decubitus | Patient feels comfort at lateral position. | Unilateral pleural effusion. Pneumothorax. |
| 5. Curled up | Patient curls to relieve the pain. | Renal & biliary colic. |
| 6. Dorsal decubitus | Patient lies flat at supine position and remains still | Peritonitis |