Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia
Corso di laurea in infermieristica - Sede di Modena
| Thesis Title | Risk of malnutrition in the elderly: nursing roles, skills and responsibilities between hospital and territory |
|---|---|
| Name | Persona Veronica |
| Supervisor(s) | Nava Letizia, Ghidoni Matilde |
| Academic Year | |
| Thesis type | Non research thesis |
Abstract
This thesis is centred on malnutrition, understood as undernutrition, and its risk in the elderly population, focusing on its main causes and consequences in hospital and territorial settings. The purpose of the study is to underline the importance of timely and constant nutritional assessment, recognizing the influence that the nutritional status can have on clinical prognosis and psycho-physical wellness of the assisted person. It also aims to recognize the value of this care area, often neglected even for socio-cultural conceptions, and to emphasize the central role of the nurse in the processes of patient care and assistance between hospital and territory. In the first part of the essay concepts defning malnutrition’s risk and its related treatments applicable in hospital setting are presented, focusing on specific nursing skills. The second part, structured in the same way, concerns territorial assistance, mainly home care, presenting the primary and secondary prevention tools available to the territorial care team. In the end a clinical case about an elderly cancer patient requiring nutritional support is presented, with a focus on management and hospital and territorial’s nursing care in cooperation with the multidisciplinary team. From the studies considered analysing the literature emerged the importance of nutritional care in improving the outcome of medical-surgical treatments, as well as the essential and multiple skills of the nurse who ensures quality assistance through interventions aimed at maintaining a proper nutritional status, reducing complications, organizing an adequate continuity in assistance and providing information and education to patient and caregiver.