Nutritional/Dietetic Diagnosis (BDA, 2012)
The information gathered as part of the assessment should be reviewed and synthesised and from this a nutritional diagnosis should be determined.
The alterations in the client/group/populations' nutritional status.
The related factors contributing to the existence of, or maintenance of pathophysiological, psychosocial, situational, developmental, cultural, and/or environmental problems.
Signs and Symptoms
The defining characteristics are a cluster of subjective and objective signs and symptoms established for each nutritional diagnosis. The defining characteristics are gathered during the assessment phase and provide evidence that nutrition related problem exist.
The next phase of the care process is the intervention, which is divided into the plan and implementation.
Identify the overall aim of treatment. It may be minimise further losses, prevent further weight loss, maintain nutritional status, increase weight or improve nutritional status.
Identify several short term goals/ action points that will be changed as a result of the assessment.
These should be written as SMART goals (Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely). The goals should be negotiated and agreed between the health care professional and the patient or carer.
A timeframe for follow up and review should be agreed upon.
The implementation and monitoring phases of the care process will be discussed in subsequent sections.