Nutritional Screening Tools in Critical Care

Abstract

Nutrition screening tools are rapid, simple, and accurate methods of determining patient nutritional status. They are usually used at first contact with a dietician or another healthcare professional such as a nurse or doctor. A full clinical assessment is not complete without nutritional screening. The use of a nutritional screening tool is usually standardized across a region as recommended by organizations such as the British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN) or the European Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN). Of course, other organizations in various different countries have also set regional standards of practice.