Standards of Practice for Nutrition Support Pharmacists

Abstract

of their professional time to nutrition support activities. These activities may include direct patient care, research relevant to nutrition support therapy, teaching, and administrative responsibilities. These standards are not intended for the pharmacist who occasionally provides nutrition support to patients, but rather to those who by virtue of education, training, experience, and personal interest wish to be identified as an NSP and provide expertise in collaboration with other healthcare professionals. 2. Level of Care: These Standards of Practice represent a range of competencies that should be provided by any NSP within or outside the context of a formal nutrition support service or team. The application of standards in any individual case should be determined by the best judgment of the NSP, as well as their position and practice environment. The Standards are presented in the most generic terms possible. Details of patient care are left to the discretion of the individual NSP, healthcare professionals, and nutrition support services or teams. The Standards aim to provide a basis for sound and efficient nutrition care for patients in all healthcare settings in need of nutrition support therapy. Terminology to be included in each standard are specified as: a. "Shall": indicates standards to be followed strictly. b. "Should": indicates that among several possibilities one is particularly suitable, without mentioning or excluding others, or that a certain course of action is preferred but not necessarily required. c. "May": indicates a course of action which is permissible within the limits of recommended practice.

A Parenteral Nutrition Use Survey With Gap Analysis

“…Available practice guidelines and recommendations are based on those practices generally accepted to minimize errors with a complex therapy. Table 7 lists the major issues identified from the survey that reflect gaps with these best PN practices 4 , 9 – 12 and compares responses from the previous national survey.…”

“…This process includes prescribing, reviewing the order, compounding, dispensing, administering, monitoring, ongoing assessment, and documentation 2 . Many of the survey items were based on best current PN practices as defined by several published documents 4 , 9 – 12 . A total of 70 items were available in the posted survey.…”

Practice Analysis of Nutrition Support Professionals

“…The development of the survey tool was achieved in 3 phases. In the first phase, a conceptual understanding of the profession was obtained by conducting a thorough review of available published literature, guidelines, standards, and relevant resource textbooks and manuals in the field 3 – 18 . References were searched until no new references could be identified.…”

A.S.P.E.N. Standards for Nutrition Support

“… 1.1. The role of each healthcare professional is clearly defined and responsibilities are designated 4 – 7 1.2.…”

“…The physician should act in collaboration with a nurse*, dietitian*, pharmacist*, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, and/or other healthcare professionals as needed. Each healthcare professional shall demonstrate competency in nutrition support as per his or her institutional site policy 4 – 7 1.3.…”