What method should a nurse use to assess a patient's nutritional status effectively?

To effectively assess a patient's nutritional status, integrating multiple objective and subjective measures is essential. This comprehensive approach allows healthcare providers to gather a well-rounded view of a patient’s nutritional needs and deficiencies.

Subjective measures can include dietary recalls, self-reported food intake, and health histories, which provide insights into the patient's eating habits and lifestyle. Objective measures involve clinical assessments, laboratory tests, and physical evaluations that help quantify nutritional parameters, such as weight, body mass index (BMI), and levels of specific nutrients in the bloodstream.

Using a single tool may not capture the complexity of an individual’s nutritional situation, as it might miss important factors such as dietary preferences, social influences, and underlying health conditions. Relying solely on one method could lead to an incomplete assessment and inadequate nutritional intervention plans. Thus, the correct approach is to employ a combination of both subjective and objective assessments to develop a holistic understanding of a patient’s nutritional status and support optimal health outcomes.