1. Nutrition Care Process (NCP)
Prepared by Sandy Sarcona, MS, RD

2. Problem, Etiology, Signs and Symptoms
Steps of NCP
A – Nutrition Assessment
D – Nutrition Diagnosis 
I – Nutrition Intervention
M – Nutrition Monitoring
E – Evaluation
Problem, Etiology, Signs and Symptoms
Through nutrition reassessment, dietetics practitioners perform nutrition monitoring and evaluation to determine if the nutrition intervention strategy is working to resolve the nutrition diagnosis, its etiology, and/or signs and symptoms

3. Step 1: Nutrition Assessment
Screening and referral are typical entrance points into the NCP
Assessment leads to determination that a nutrition diagnosis/problem exists; it is possible that a nutrition problem does not exist
Example: LTC resident on tube feeding; weight wnl and stable, Albumin wnl, labs wnl, good skin integrity and hydration status, feeding continues at recommended rate.

4. Nutrition Assessment Domains
Food/Nutrition-Related History: FH (diet hx, energy intake, food and beverage intake, enteral and parenteral intake, bioactive substance intake, macronutrient/micronutrient intake, medication/supplement use, knowledge/beliefs/attitudes/behavior, etc)
Anthropometric Measurements: AD
Biochemical Data, Medical Tests and Procedures: BD
Nutrition Focused Physical Findings: PD (appetite, edema, taste alterations, swallowing difficulty, etc)
Client History: CH (personal hx, PMH, social hx)

5. Nutrition Assessment, Monitoring and Evaluation Comparative Standards
Estimated Energy Needs (formula)
Estimated Fat, Protein, and CHO needs
Estimated Fiber Needs (AI)
Estimated Fluid Needs (AI)
Estimated Vitamin and Mineral Needs (RDA…)
Recommended Body Weight /BMI/Growth (peds)

6. Example: Food Intake
Indications: amount of food, types of food/meals; meal/snack patterns, diet quality, food variety Measurement methods: food intake records, 24-hour recall, food frequency, MyPyramid Tracker
Typically used to monitor and evaluate change in the following nutrition dx: excessive or inadequate oral food/bev intake, underweight, overweight/obesity, limited access to food
Evaluation – comparison to goal or reference standard
1) Goal: Pt currently eats ~10% of kcal from saturated fat Goal  to <7% of daily kcal
2) Reference standard: Pt’s current intake of fat not meeting AHA criteria to consume <7% of kcal from sat. fat

7. Step 2: Nutrition Diagnosis
Problem (Diagnostic Label) such as, Excessive oral food/beverage intake (NI-2.2)
Etiology (Cause/Contributing Factor) such as, related to lack of food planning, purchasing, and preparation skills
Signs/Symptoms defining characteristics) such as, as evidenced by BMI of 32, intake of high caloric-density foods/beverages at meals and snacks.

8. Nutrition Diagnosis - Domains
Intake (NI) – actual problems related to intake of energy, nutrients, fluids, bioactive substances through oral diet or nutrition support
Clinical (NC) – Nutritional finding/problems identified that relate to medical or physical conditions
Behavioral – Environmental (NB) – Nutritional findings/problems identified that related to knowledge, attitudes/beliefs, physical environment, access to food, or food safety

9. Nutrition Dx: Problem, Etiology, Signs and Symptoms
Involuntary weight gain (NC-3.4) related to antipsychotic medication as evidenced by increase weight of 11% in 6 months.
Self-feeding difficulty (NB- 2.6) related to impaired cognitive ability as evidenced by weight loss of 6% in last month and dropping cups and food from utensil.
Inadequate energy intake (NI- 2.1) related to decreased ability to consume sufficient energy due to ESRD and dialysis as evidenced by significant weight loss of 5% in past month, and lack of interest in food

10. Step 3: Nutrition Intervention
Involves planning and implementation
Planning
Prioritizing the nutrition diagnoses, setting goals and defining the intervention strategy and
Detailing the nutrition prescription (states pt/client’s recommended dietary intake of energy, nutrients, etc)
Using the ADA’s evidence-based practice guidelines
Setting goals that are measurable, achievable and time- defined
Implementation – carrying out and communicating the plan of care

11. Nutrition Intervention – 4 categories
Nutrition Counseling
Food and/or Nutrient Delivery
Collaborative counselor- patient relationship, to set priorities, establish goals and create action plans for self- care to treat an existing condition and promote health
Referral to or coordination of nutrition care with other health care providers, agencies etc. to assist in managing nutrition related problems
Individualized approach for food/nutrient provision such as meals, snacks, supplements
Instruct a pt/client in a skill or to impart knowledge to help them manage or modify food choices and eating behavior to maintain or improve health
Nutrition Education
Coordination of Nutrition Care

12. Nutrition Intervention
Direct the nutrition intervention at the etiology of the problem or at the signs and symptoms if the etiology cannot be changed by the dietetics practitioner.
Nutrition interventions are intended to eliminate or diminish the nutrition diagnosis, or to reduce signs and symptoms of the nutrition diagnosis.
Assessment Diagnosis Intervention Monitoring & Eval
 
Problem Etiology Signs & Symptoms

13. Step 4: Monitoring and Evaluation
Determine the amount of progress made and whether goals/expected outcomes are being met
Follow-up monitoring of the signs and symptoms is used to determine the impact of the nutrition intervention on the etiology /signs and symptoms of the problem.

14. Monitoring and Evaluation
Food/Nutrition –Related Hx Outcomes
Biochemical Data, Medical Tests & Procedure Outcomes
Food and nutrient intake, supplement intake, physical activity, food availability, etc.
Physical appearance, swallow function, appetite
Lab data and tests
Height, weight, BMI, growth pattern, weight hx
Nutrition-Focused Physical Finding Outcomes
Anthropometric Measurement Outcomes

15. Sample:
PES: Self-monitoring knowledge deficit related to knowledge deficit on how to record food and beverage intake as evidenced by incomplete food records at last two clinic visits and lab of HbA1c = 8.5mg/dL
Assessment Data:(sources of info): blood glucose self-monitoring records, food diary worksheets and meal records, blood glucose levels (Fasting, 2-hour postprandial and/or HbA1c levels)
Intervention: Teaching patient and family members about use of simple blood glucose self-monitoring records and meal records
Monitoring and Evaluation:HbA1c levels (goal <6.5mg/dL); other glucose labs, food diary and records, discussion about complications of using the records.

16. Sample: Dialysis Patient
PES: Excessive mineral intake of Phosphorus (NI ) related to overconsumption of high Phosphorus foods and not taking Phosphate Binders as evidenced by hyperphosphatemia
Assessment Data:(sources of info): diet recall, monthly serum phosphorus level.
Intervention: Teaching patient about use of taking phosphate binders with meals and instruction on high phosphorus foods to limit to <1200mg/day
Monitoring and Evaluation: Phosphorus levels (goal ≤ 5.5mg/dL); keeping records of P intake from food and binders

17. Sample: Gastroesophagel reflux disease (GERD)
PES: Undesirable food choices (NB-1.7) related to lack of prior exposure to accurate nutrition-related information as evidenced by alcohol intake of ~10 drinks/week and high fat diet and complaints of heart burn.
Assessment: Diet recall
Intervention: Educate and counsel patient on dietary management of GERD and the role of alcohol and fat in promoting heart burn.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Report of decreased alcohol and fat consumption and less heart burn and discomfort.

18. Sample:
Dialysis
PES: Excessive fluid intake (NI 3.2) related to kidney disease as evidenced by weight gain of 5kg between treatments
Assessment:
Intervention:
Monitoring/Evaluation:

19. Sample Case 1
58 year old female with Type 2 DM, ESRD 2 diabetic nephropathy; third month on dialysis
Labs: K+ 5.8mEq/L; BUN 74mg/dL; Creat 5.51mg/dL; Albumin 3.6g/dL; FBS 289mg/dL; HbgA1c 9.4%; Phosphorus 5.3mEq/L
Rx: 2 PhosLo/meal, 2000IU cholecalciferol, Metformin, Lipitor
Adhering to phosphate binders. Diet hx – 60 gm protein (10%), 350gm CHO (65%), 61gm fat (25%) 2200 kcal, about 3gm K, 1000ml fluid: pt states she is okay with fluid restriction, but is overwhelmed with dialysis and new diet modifications; not sure what she is allowed to eat anymore; familiar with diet for diabetes but not renal; good appetite.
Ht. 5’6”, Wt. 160, BMI 25

20. PES for Case 1
Excessive Carbohydrate Intake – NI related to lack of willingness/failure to modify carbohydrate intake as evidenced by hyperglycemia, FBS 289 ; Hemoglobin A1c 9.4%, diabetes
Excessive Mineral Intake (Potassium) – NI related to food and nutrition-related knowledge deficit as evidenced by serum K+ of 5.8

21. Sample Case 2
82 year old male, S/P CVA with right sided weakness 1 mos ago, HTN, ESRD on dialysis 2x/week
Lives alone on 2nd floor of two family house; cannot drive; use to walk to store prior to stroke but can’t anymore; depends on son to bring him food. Pt claims that his son does not visit regularly
Alb 2.9
Ht 5’10’, UBW 165lbs prior to stroke; Present wt 154lbs
Diet order: 80gm protein, 2gm Na, 2gm K, 1000ml fluid
Diet hx: B – toast w/ butter and coffee, L – soup, crackers and coffee, D-soup, sandwich (peanut butter and jelly) and tea; S – whole milk and 4 cookies

22. PES Case 2
Limited access to food – NB-3.2 related to physical limitation to shop as evidenced by report of limited supply of food and variety of food in home; significant weight loss of 6% in one month.