why is nutrition course needed for nursing

by Miss Ramona Lockman DDS 5 min read

It is important that nurses understand proper nutrition as it relates to recovery as well. Proper nutrition is not only important for preventing disease, it is also crucial to the recovery process.Sep 20, 2016

Full Answer

Why is nutrition important for nurses?

Speaking about nurses in particular, there are two main reasons why nutrition is extremely important. The first reason why nurses should be well informed about nutrition is for their own health and well being. Nursing is a demanding and often stressful career. Hours can be long, and nurses often have to work a variety of shifts.

What are nutritional classes for nurses?

Nutrition classes provide the information necessary to sort the fact from fiction about healthy eating and pass that knowledge on to their patients. Not only must nurses be able to explain the ins and outs of a healthy diet, they must also lead by example. How Does Nutrition Relate to Health?

Can you become a nurse with a degree in nutrition?

There are also people with formal training in the field of nutrition who may decide to become nurses. They are in the best position of all, as they will be able to combine the knowledge from the disciplines of nursing and nutrition. Dietitians and nutritionists are taught a wide variety of principles regarding the role of nutrition in health.

What do food and nutrition classes teach you?

Food and nutrition classes teach about food and nutrition in relation to disease and health. Vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fibers, water, and minerals make up the nutritional elements of food.

Why is study of nutrition important in nursing?

Conclusion. In conclusion providing good nutrition is important in the prevention of malnutrition, degenerative diseases and overall well being of patients. It is vital for nurses to develop good nutritional knowledge and interpersonal skills to be able to provide holistic quality care towards the recovery of patients.

Do you need nutrition to be a nurse?

Nutrition continues to be an essential domain of nursing practice,” asserts American Nurse Today, the official journal of the American Nurses Association (ANA).

What can nurses do with nutrition?

They may function as a general nutrition coach or specifically for medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. Nutrition nurses develop customized nutrition plans to encourage good health and improve their client outcomes.

What is the connection between nursing and nutrition?

INTRODUCTION: Nurses play diverse roles in educating patients about a healthy diet and in promoting healthy eating habits, through their conversations with patients and families and through their work providing enteral and parenteral feeding to critically ill patients.

Why is taking a nutrition class important?

Nutrition classes promote healthy eating and eating habits that can contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition courses are very informative for anyone looking to learn more about the body, exercise, why eating certain foods can keep you healthy, and how to live a healthy lifestyle.

Why is nutritional knowledge important for healthcare professionals?

Conclusion: In-service nutrition training improves quality of health workers by rendering them more knowledge and competence to manage nutrition-related conditions, especially child undernutrition.

Why is nutrition important in nursing?

Speaking about nurses in particular, there are two main reasons why nutrition is extremely important. Nutrition Supports the Well Being of Nurses. The first reason why nurses should be well informed about nutrition is for their own health and well being. Nursing is a demanding and often stressful career. Hours can be long, and nurses often have ...

Why should nurses be well versed in nutrition?

The most obvious reasons why nurses should be well versed in nutrition is that it can help them help their patients in many ways . There are many ways that this factor comes into play, whether a nurse is working in a doctor’s office, for a hospital or for an institution such as a nursing home.

What are the basic principles of nutrition?

Dietitians and nutritionists are taught a wide variety of principles regarding the role of nutrition in health. This covers a broad range of information, including: 1 The basic nutritional needs of the human body. 2 The importance of a balanced diet. 3 How the wrong foods, such as junk food and fast foods can contribute to obesity and disease. 4 The role of nutritional supplements. 5 How the nutritional needs of individuals differs based on factors such as gender, age, body type and medical history.

What can a nurse do to help a patient cook for themselves?

Nurses who are knowledgeable about nutrition can advise patients who cook for themselves. Additionally, such nurses can advise staff at nursing homes or home health care workers who cook for the elderly. These are some examples of how nurses who are well versed in nutrition can help patients in a variety of settings.

What are the courses required for a nursing degree?

Students pursuing a nursing degree are required to take many diverse courses. These include subjects such as English, sociology, chemistry, biology and many others.

What can a nurse do to help patients?

Nutrition can play a significant role in this, and a nurse is in the perfect position to help patients learn more about nutrition. Perhaps in the near future, obtaining a nursing degree will entail learning a great deal about nutrition. This certainly seems rational.

Is nursing a rewarding career?

Nursing is one of the most demanding and rewarding careers in the world. Nurses require a great deal of training, must often work long hours and under frequently changing working conditions. There are many skills and qualities that a nurse must bring to the job. Traditionally, nutrition hasn’t been a major factor in this field, ...

Why is nutrition important for nurses?

Proper nutrition plays a big role in disease prevention, recovery from illness and ongoing good health. A healthy diet will help you look and feel good as well. Since nurses are the main point of contact with patients, they must understand the importance of nutrition basics and be able to explain the facts about healthy food choices to their patients. Nutrition classes provide the information necessary to sort the fact from fiction about healthy eating and pass that knowledge on to their patients. Not only must nurses be able to explain the ins and outs of a healthy diet, they must also lead by example.

How can nurses teach their patients nutrition?

There are many ways nurses can teach their patients about proper nutrition as it relates to their health. Presentations at community health centers are crucial to community health. A nurse with the right knowledge can prepare a PowerPoint presentation to show for a group of seniors during a health fair.

What can a school nurse do?

Nurses who work in hospitals and clinics are likely more concerned with nutrition as it relates to recovery from illness, surgery or other treatments. Nurses can talk to patients ...

What can nurses talk about?

Nurses can talk to patients at the bedside and explain the special meals they have at the hospital that aid recovery, as many patients will be on special diets during their stay. These nurses can also gather informative and accurate literature to give patients when they are discharged.

What is the role of a nurse in healthcare?

Nurses work in a variety of healthcare settings , not just hospitals. While nurses in hospitals may focus more on the dietary concerns of patients recovering from illnesses, community nurses focus more on prevention. Nurses who work at schools or community centers can often provide nutritional education to the public to prevent chronic conditions.

Why is protein important for wound healing?

According to the British magazine Saga, protein is essential to the healing process: "Fats and carbohydrates are also important in helping wounds to heal . They stop your body from using protein as an energy source, allowing it to be used to heal tissue.".

Can nurses help with diabetes?

Nurses who work at schools or community centers can often provide nutritional education to the public to prevent chronic conditions. One fact about healthy eating that a nurse may provide is how a high sugar diet may cause type 2 diabetes. Nutrition for diabetics is crucial. According to diabetes.org, “One of the biggest risk factors ...

Why do nurses use nutrition?

Nurses use basic food and nutrition to help prevent their patients from spending time in the hospital. If patients follow the advice that nurses provide in regards to their health, they can prevent a plethora of medical conditions that stem from poor nutrition.

What do nutrition classes teach?

Food and nutrition classes teach about food and nutrition in relation to disease and health. Vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fibers, water, and minerals make up the nutritional elements of food. Fats, proteins, and carbohydrates provide the body with a source of energy. Vitamins help to regulate tissue and cell growth in the body.

How do nurses use basic food and nutrition?

How Nurses Use Basic Food and Nutrition on the Job. Many people rely on nutritionists and dieticians to help them identify proper food and nutrition. Nurses are beginning to assume this role as more and more people are suffering from diseases and conditions that are directly related to improper food and nutrition intake.

Why do nurses need to be in a nursing class?

As part of the care that nurses provide, this nursing class helps nurses ensures that their patients know the basic food and nutrition requirements to keep their bodies healthy and strong.

Why is it important to have a plan in place before the start of the Food and Nutrition course?

It is important to have a plan in place before the start of the Food and Nutrition course so that nursing student can be successful in their studies. Here are a few study tips that can help. Break the text into smaller chunks. It is better to create a realistic plan to execute rather than plan for an unreasonable amount of studying.

What is basic nutrition?

What is Basic Food and Nutrition? Basic food and nutrition refers to the minimum requirements of food and nutrients needed for a human being to survive. Knowledge of food and nutrition are not only good for people who want to stay healthy but also for nurses working in the nursing profession. Food and nutrition classes teach about food ...

Why is it important to read before class?

Reading the content before class helps students to get a better understanding of the information they hear in the lecture. Not knowing the pronunciation of technical terms before class can cause students to miss information. Studying to pass food and nutrition courses in nursing school is so important to the overall health of their patients.

Do nurses need to be experts in nutrition?

Mar 24, 2011. No need to be an expert on nutrition, however, every nurse should have some idea/knowledge about it as proper nutrition keeps people healthy and it will prevent sick people from becoming even worse off from improper diet or malnutrition. 0 Likes.

Do hospitals have dieticians?

Yes it's true that hospital s have dieticians on staff, but I still felt it benefitted me to understand what the dieticians were doing. And now that I'm working in public health, understanding nutrition is incredibly useful to me. So yes, your knowledge of nutrition will be useful in your nursing career. 0 Likes.

Do nurses know nutrition?

Most nurses know the basics of nutrition but depending on what your specility is, nutrition can play a huge role. If you decide to work in wound healing, diabetics, cardiac or just about other area, having such an impressive background will help you alot.

What is a Nutrition Nurse?

A nutrition nurse has expertise in overall nutritional support as it pertains to specific medical conditions. A certification from the National Board of Nutrition Support Certification (NBNSC) or the American Association of Nutritional Consultants (AANC) is required for becoming a nutrition nurse. This offers greater opportunities in:

Steps to Becoming a Nutrition Nurse

Nurses working in this field are often self-motivated with excellent communication, time management, and interpersonal skills. A nutrition nurse degree begins with a registered nurse credential. Before certification, you may complete an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).

Nutrition Nurse Schooling

As you investigate how to become a nutrition nurse, you will discover that your time commitment is dependent on your current nursing education, experience, and background. Certification demonstrates credibility to your clients and future employers. Nurses with a BSN degree may have more job opportunities available to them.

Nutrition Nurse Credentials

Nutrition nurses have two key credential options. The first is a state license conferred by national board certification that governs your ability to practice as an RN. The second is a certification in your area of specialization; in this case, certification as a nutrition nurse.

Working as a Nutrition Nurse

After graduating, becoming licensed to practice, and obtaining certification as a nutrition nurse, you can begin your job search. The average annual salary for nutrition nurses in the U.S. is $64,040. After being certified, you may also choose to specialize further in geriatrics, wound care, public health, or prenatal care.

Becoming a Nutrition Nurse: FAQs

It can take up to five or more years to complete nutrition nurse requirements. This includes four years to obtain your BSN and one year for education and certification. However, you may wish to earn a graduate degree as a nurse practitioner, which expands employment opportunities.

Reviewed by

Brandy Gleason, MSN, MHA, BC-NC, is a nursing professional with nearly 20 years of varied nursing experience. Gleason currently teaches as an assistant professor of nursing within a prelicensure nursing program and coaches graduate students.

Why is nutrition important?

Proper nutrition is foundational for preventing chronic diseases and in sustaining a long and healthy life. This is important information to have and to cultivate in others because people who eat a healthier diet not only live ...

Is nutrition good for chronic disease?

For people already afflicted with a chronic disease, good nutrition may be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to modulating symptoms and even preventing disease progression.

What is nursing fundamentals?

Nursing Fundamentals includes a broad range of information involving the practical side of nursing and what is required of you. It will usually include discussions, demonstrations and lab work for simulations and hands on experience. Assessing disorders, determining treatments, teaching nursing, health promotion, ...

Why do you need to take microbiology for RN?

Basic microbiology courses are often included in RN degree work because it explains the cause of many human diseases. Some of the subject matter covered within this course involves the immune system, medication and how it reacts with the body, host-parasites, culturing, antibiotic identification, and biochemical testing.

What is the BSN in Pace College?

Pace College includes gerontology among its BSN curriculum. Gerontology is the study of older adult humans, and although some nurses may not require this course, it’s a standard in most teaching curriculums as it deals with what the majority of hospital patients will be like. This course studies the safety of elderly patients, disease prevention, and geriatric syndromes. Students will discover the link between medications and illnesses within the elderly community, and learn about transitioning care environments, dealing with loss, and end of life issues.

What is ethics in nursing?

Ethics courses work to enhance ethical thinking within the nursing field for decision making that pertains to questionable circumstances and biomedical issues. Professionalism, codes of conduct, technology, confidentiality, abuse, and refusal of treatments are all discussed within this course. Students will usually participate in projects or case studies to form perspectives, practice concepts, and research case law.

What is mental health nursing?

Mental Health is a huge section of nursing in nearly any field of work, and the course covers a variety of issues facing patients today. Illnesses that affect both children and adults are covered, along with concepts relating to mental health such as neurobiology and psychosocial theories. Students are usually encouraged to partake in a practical period during this program in which a mental health facility is viewed.

What is the importance of women and infants in nursing?

These types of courses often cover the concepts of care for women and newborns, as well as women’s health through menstruation and menopause.

Does Clemson University have a women's nursing program?

Clemson University has a women and children course suited particularly for such nurses. These types of courses often cover the concepts of care for women and newborns, as well as women’s health through menstruation and menopause.

What is the degree of a nurse?

A degree should enable you to master more than just the basic knowledge of care and gain a stronger foundation for adapting to evolving models of healthcare. As a nurse, you need to be competent enough to provide patient-centered care by recognizing and responding to physical, social, and mental needs.

What is an advanced nursing degree?

An advanced degree program can introduce nursing students to different levels of competences in areas such as leadership, health policy, and quality improvement. Students seeking further education can be introduced to different levels of preparation in research skills and assessment of gaps in practice and teamwork.

Why is the nursing profession evolving?

The nursing profession is continually evolving, resulting from employer standards , a change in the population, and external pressures. A well-trained workforce can improve the healthcare system and empower nurses to be well-prepared to handle complex challenges in the industry.

Why do nurses need to adapt to the high tech environment?

A nurse must, therefore, adapt to the high tech environment to facilitate an up-to-date service and advice patients on the most advanced treatment methods.

Why is it important to advance your education?

Advancing your education can thus enable you to achieve better outcomes, optimize operational efficiency, and reduce costs. The new abilities learned can be innovative, allowing you to learn how to analyze data and automate clinical care. Educated nurses bring unique insights to the medical field.

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Health

Curriculum

  • Most nurses take at least one course in basic nutrition during their studies. While the specific requirements of nursing programs differ from place to place, nutrition is not usually emphasized. Students pursuing a nursing degree are required to take many diverse courses. These include subjects such as English, sociology, chemistry, biology and many others. A nutrition course is us…
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Significance

  • This situation is not unique to nursing, as even medical doctors may obtain their degrees after having only a brief exposure to the field of nutrition. This reflects a traditional gulf in modern medicine, where the focus tends to be on treating medical conditions with medications and procedures. Nutrition has often been associated with alternative or holistic medicine, where the …
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Summary

  • Dietitians and nutritionists are taught a wide variety of principles regarding the role of nutrition in health. This covers a broad range of information, including:
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Benefits

  • Apart from how useful nutritional information is for their careers, it can also help individual nurses maintain good health and a strong immune system. This can help them cope with the long hours and pressures of the job. While this could be beneficial to anyone, its of particular importance to people who dont have the luxury of working predictable schedules or sitting behind a desk all da…
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Examples

  • These are some examples of how nurses who are well versed in nutrition can help patients in a variety of settings.
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Future

  • Perhaps in the near future, obtaining a nursing degree will entail learning a great deal about nutrition. This certainly seems rational. Until that type, all nurses can do is educate themselves regarding nutrition and apply this knowledge as best they can, both in their own lives and in the course of their careers.
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