Nurses use various methods to assess dietary needs, including:
Dietary History: Collecting detailed information about the patient's usual food and drink intake, meal patterns, and preferences. Nutritional Screening Tools: Utilizing standardized tools like the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) to identify those at risk of malnutrition. Physical Assessments: Observing signs of nutritional deficiencies, such as weight loss, muscle wasting, or skin changes. Laboratory Tests: Analyzing blood tests to check for deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients.
