營養狀況改變及護理

Nursing Care for a Patient with Altered Nutritional Status

營養狀況改變為臨床常見的議題，患者常因營養不良而延長治療期間。營養素是提供人體能量的主要來源，也是維持生命必需的元素。本文將介紹營養之沿革及定義，探討營養素的代謝及疾病時發生的變化，以及臨床上營養評估的工具；並提出營養狀況改變時之護理要點，希望能提供護理人員營養相關訊息，應用於臨床實務以早期發現病患問題。

Altered nutritional status is a common clinical issue. It prolongs a patient's treatment period because of malnutrition. Nutrients are the main source for body energy, and they are the essential components for life maintenance, as well. This article reviews the definition of nutrition and its history, metabolism of nutrients, alteration of nutritional status secondary to disease, and tools used for nutritional assessment. It also describes nursing interventions for patients with malnutrition. This article provides nurses with nutrition-related information and an assessment for nursing care with the hope of early detection of the patients with malnutrition.