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.