Nutritional Assessment and Support

This topic covers the principles of human nutrition, methods for nutritional assessment (including screening tools, anthropometric measurements, and dietary history), and strategies for nutritional support across the lifespan and in various disease states. It addresses malnutrition, obesity, and specific dietary requirements for conditions like diabetes, renal failure, and wound healing. For Zambian nursing students, this knowledge is vital in a context where both undernutrition and lifestyle diseases are prevalent. Proficiency enables nurses to identify nutritional risks, provide basic dietary counseling, collaborate with dietitians, and manage enteral or parenteral feeding. Success in this area is important for examinations and for holistic patient care, directly impacting recovery, immune function, and overall health outcomes in Zambian communities.