Success Stories

Advancing Malnutrition Care through Dietetic Practical Training

Whether you’re a seasoned Dietitian or an aspiring one, we all share a passion for understanding the science and art of dietetics and contributing to its progress. Thanks to the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force (CMTF), significant advancements in malnutrition care are happening across the country. Dietitians and Dietetic Interns within NL Health Services (NLHS) are eager to participate in this evolution and are collaborating to find creative ways to further improve malnutrition care.

At NLHS, Registered Dietitians (RDs) have been actively implementing initiatives that support the CMTF’s Advancing Malnutrition Care (AMC) study. In the fast-paced acute care environment, it can be challenging for Clinical Dietitians to dedicate time to plan and execute malnutrition initiatives. This is where Dietetic Interns can make a valuable contribution. By aligning the AMC initiatives with the goals of NLHS’s Dietetic Internship Program, dietitians can merge their preceptor roles with the implementation of malnutrition initiatives. This allows interns to meet key practice competencies while sharing their passion for advancing malnutrition care.

The Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice (2020) that align well with malnutrition care quality improvement projects fall under the domain of Management and Leadership and include the following competencies:

• 4.02: Assess and enhance approaches to practice
• 4.03: Participate in practice-based research activities
• 4.04: Undertake knowledge translation
• 4.05: Advocate for ongoing improvement of nutrition health and care

Dietetic Interns at NLHS have engaged in several malnutrition quality improvement projects enabling them to meet the above noted practice competences, which include:

• Partnering with the Senior Friendly Care (sfCare) initiative to host a Malnutrition Blitz at an adult acute care facility. This event provided staff and families with interactive opportunities to learn about the Canadian Nutrition Screening Tool, the volunteer meal assistance program, hydration rounds, and offered a simulation of eating while lying down in bed.
• Developing content for a 20 min e-learning session (in partnership with sfCare) to raise awareness of malnutrition awareness in older adults and provide all frontline healthcare providers with knowledge on how to prevent, identify, and treat malnutrition in healthcare settings.
• Collaborating with RDs at an adult Rehabilitation Centre to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of nursing staff (LPNs and RNs) regarding malnutrition.
• Developing a patient resource outlining food support services available in a rural community for patients after discharge.
• Assisting with the implementation of MedPass (branded as 'Nourish-Med'), where interns developed educational materials and trained staff on the program’s benefits.
• Working with Food Services, Volunteer Resources, and Clinical Dietitians to implement a Volunteer Meal Assistance Program.
• Collaborated with Food Service Dietitians to develop nutrient dense recipes and liberalized diet orders for adult acute care patients.

The AMC study has provided dietetic interns with the opportunity to assess and improve approaches to malnutrition care, engage in evidence-based quality improvement projects, translate malnutrition knowledge to healthcare staff and the public, and advocate for ongoing advancements in malnutrition care. The study also inspires dietitians and interns to expand their knowledge and collaborate on meaningful projects that enhance the nutritional care of patients. The future of advancing malnutrition care is bright with continued passionate partnerships!

Stimulating eating while lying in bed

Submitted by Kara Roberts, Professional Practice Consultant for Dietitians and Director, Dietetic Internship Program, NL Health Services