In the realm of nutrition care, a well-structured nutrition assessment is key to understanding and addressing a client’s unique needs. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the intricacies of nutrition assessment forms; what nutrition assessment entails and what to include in effective intake forms and chart notes to simplify the process.
Nutrition assessment is the first part of the nutrition care process; the “A” in ADIME. At its core, nutrition assessment is a systematic methodology, encompassing the collection, classification, and synthesis of pertinent data (1). This process is not a one-time event, but rather an ongoing, dynamic journey that involves initial data collection, continual reassessment, and analysis of a client’s status in relation to accepted standards, recommendations, and goals (1).
The nutrition care process includes 9 categories of nutrition assessment data (1). Each of these categories should be included on nutrition assessment forms, however the examples of data collected will depend on the individual client and practice setting (1):
The nutrition assessment data in each of the 9 categories, can be sourced before interacting with the client, through intake forms, health records, or information from referring or team healthcare providers.
Data obtained before interacting with the client should always be confirmed during direct client interaction (or interactions with their substitute decision maker). During client interactions, additional data can be obtained directly from the client or based on observations during the session.
Nutrition assessment forms can be broken down into different components, which will likely include:
Having detailed intake form and chart note templates can help to support optimal nutrition assessment data collection.
Disclaimer: The form bundle was sponsored by Practice Better.
The first part of your nutrition assessment forms is a space for gathering nutrition assessment data. This could be in the form of an intake form that the client fills out, a data collection form that you complete while interacting with the client and/or from the client’s data in their medical chart. To make your nutrition assessment simpler and more comprehensive, an intake or data collection nutrition assessment form might include:
Your assessment might also include a validated screening tool such as a malnutrition screening tool, either as part of your nutrition assessment forms or separately.
After gathering all of the data you need for your nutrition assessment you will need to apply your critical thinking skills to interpret the data and conduct your assessment. Information gathering will also include meeting the client to understand and confirm the details of the pre-session data. Most of this part of your nutrition assessment will be housed in the assessment portion of your nutrition chart notes. A detailed chart note template can help you to ensure you don’t miss any important nutrition assessment details.
An important part of your nutrition assessment is comparing the client’s data to comparative standards. These could be reference standards such as the dietary reference intakes (DRIs), recommendations (such as a practice guideline), or goals (i.e. the client has a specific habit or behavior they would like to modify).
Once this step has been completed, you can put on your nutrition assessment hat and outline the main nutrition problem. This may require prioritization of the most severe problem if there are more than one. This nutrition problem will be directly used in your nutrition diagnosis; the “P” in PES Statement.
For more information on PES Statements check out the blog article: How To Write a PES Statement (With Sample PES Statements!) and download our Free PES statement cheat sheet
Disclaimer: the information provided in all written materials is for educational purposes only and is not to be used as medical advice or to diagnose or treat a medical disease. It is strictly for informational purposes and is general in nature. Dietitian Success Center Inc. is not responsible and cannot be held liable for any actions or inactions taken related to the information provided. Consult with your local medical provider before implementing any dietary changes. It is hereby understood that the information provided does not replace medical advice provided by your healthcare provider.