Editing Nutrition (section)

== Why Nutrition Matters in Nursing Practice ==

Nutritional status influences almost every clinical outcome a nurse monitors.

* '''Wound healing.''' Protein, vitamin C, vitamin A, and zinc are required for collagen synthesis and epithelialization. A protein-depleted patient will not heal a surgical incision or a stage 3 pressure injury no matter how good the dressing technique is.
* '''Immune function.''' Protein-energy malnutrition reduces lymphocyte counts and impairs cell-mediated immunity, raising infection risk.
* '''Skin integrity.''' Malnutrition plus immobility is the classic setup for pressure injury.
* '''Drug handling.''' Low serum albumin means fewer binding sites for highly protein-bound drugs (phenytoin, warfarin, furosemide), leaving more free drug and increasing toxicity risk.
* '''Length of stay and mortality.''' Malnourished inpatients have longer stays, more complications, and higher mortality.

Nutrition screening on admission is a nursing responsibility. Red flags include unintentional weight loss, poor appetite lasting more than a few days, chewing or swallowing difficulty, nothing-by-mouth status beyond a few days, and pressure injuries or non-healing wounds. Any of these warrants a referral to the registered dietitian.