Altered Nutrition: Less Than Body Requirements Nursing Care Plan
Assessment
- Subjective data:
- Patient reports feeling weak and tired.
- Patient reports unintentional weight loss.
- Patient reports decreased appetite.
- Patient reports difficulty swallowing.
- Patient reports nausea and vomiting.
- Objective data:
- Patient has a low body mass index (BMI).
- Patient has a decreased subcutaneous fat layer.
- Patient has a decreased muscle mass.
- Patient has a poor skin turgor.
- Patient has a dry and brittle hair.
- Patient has a decreased capillary refill time.
Diagnosis
Altered nutrition: less than body requirements related to:
- Inadequate food intake
- Increased metabolic needs
- Digestive disorders
- Medications
- Psychological factors
Outcomes
The patient will:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Consume an adequate amount of calories and nutrients.
- Tolerate oral feedings.
- Manage symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
Interventions
Nursing interventions:
- Assess the patient’s nutritional status.
- Identify the underlying cause of the altered nutrition.
- Develop a plan to address the underlying cause.
- Provide the patient with nutrition education.
- Encourage the patient to eat small, frequent meals.
- Offer the patient high-calorie, nutrient-rich foods.
- Assist the patient with eating.
- Monitor the patient’s weight and nutritional status.
- Consult with a dietitian as needed.
Medical interventions:
- Prescribe medications to manage symptoms of nausea and vomiting.
- Insert a feeding tube if the patient is unable to eat orally.
- Provide total parenteral nutrition (TPN) if the patient is unable to tolerate enteral feedings.
Evaluation
The patient’s nutritional status will be evaluated on a regular basis. The evaluation will include:
- Weight
- BMI
- Subcutaneous fat layer
- Muscle mass
- Skin turgor
- Hair
- Capillary refill time
- Symptoms of nausea and vomiting
The patient’s nutritional status should improve with treatment. The patient should gain weight, have a healthy BMI, and have a normal subcutaneous fat layer, muscle mass, skin turgor, hair, and capillary refill time. The patient should also have no symptoms of nausea and vomiting.