Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Nutrition for Nurses

Introduction

Nutrition for NursesIntroduction
A grouping of fruit includes bunches of bananas, oranges, apples, pears, strawberries, grapes, pineapples, and melons.
Figure 1.1 Good nutrition, including fruits, is the foundation of good health. (credit: modification of work “Culinary fruits front view” by Bill Ebbesen/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0)

Chapter Outline

1.1 What Is Nutrition?
1.2 Interdisciplinary Teams and Nutrition in Nursing Practice
1.3 Nutrition and Population Health
1.4 Vulnerable Populations
1.5 Evidence-Based Practice and Nutrition

Good nutrition is fundamental to improving and maintaining health regardless of age or current health status (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021). Accordingly, nurses must be knowledgeable and prepared to incorporate nutrition science into their practice. Traditionally, the science of nutrition had focused on nutrient intake and biochemical processing only. However, food intake serves other various purposes, from celebrating milestones to providing comfort when stressed or grieving. Over time, food and food preparation has evolved to center around pleasure and convenience rather than simply a means of sustenance. Consequently, nurses must integrate these social and cultural factors with evidence-based nutritional guidelines to help their clients meet their physical, psychological, and social needs.

PreviousNext
Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/nutrition/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/nutrition/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© May 15, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.