CNS case studies
CNS · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) is an advanced nutrition credential administered by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS). It is designed for practitioners who hold a graduate degree in nutrition or a related field and who intend to deliver individualized nutrition care - assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring, and counseling - rather than general wellness advice. Eligibility routes typically combine a qualifying degree, supervised practice experience, and completion of the exam, so most candidates arrive having already logged substantial clinical hours. The examination samples the full practice model: food and nutrition science, nutrition assessment, diagnosis, intervention, monitoring and evaluation, counseling and communication, research and evidence-based practice, and professional, ethical, and business considerations. The CNS case studies are 5 cases and about 3,065 words.
1The Edematous Admission Weight: Does She Meet Malnutrition Criteria?
R, 78, is on day 3 of an admission for community-acquired pneumonia. The chart weight is 58.0 kg and she is 1.62 m tall, with 2+ bilateral pedal edema.
630 words, about 3 min2One Nutrition Diagnosis to Drive the Plan After Stroke
K, 62, is three weeks post left MCA ischemic stroke. He has oropharyngeal dysphagia and is on minced/moist texture with nectar-thick liquids; speech-language pathology follow-up is pending.
546 words, about 3 min3Hyperkalemia in CKD 4: When the Diet Order Is the Least Useful Lever
L, 55, has had type 2 diabetes for 12 years and CKD stage 4 (eGFR 22 mL/min/1.73 m²). Labs: potassium 5.8 mmol/L (repeat 5.7), bicarbonate 20 mmol/L, phosphate 5.6 mg/dL, HbA1c 8.2%, hemoglobin 10.1 g/dL.
619 words, about 3 min4"Just Tell Me What to Do": Motivational Interviewing Under Pressure
D, 48, is referred by his GP for weight management. BMI 34.2, ALT 68, HbA1c 5.9%, BP 142/88 on no medication.
604 words, about 3 min5The Contract That Pays the Surgeon
You are a dietitian in a two-person private practice. A bariatric surgery center offers you a contract covering all pre-operative patients.
666 words, about 3 min