CNS flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Atwater factors

General energy values used in food labeling: 4 kcal per gram of carbohydrate or protein, 9 kcal per gram of fat, and 7 kcal per gram of alcohol.

Nitrogen balance formula

Nitrogen balance equals nitrogen intake minus nitrogen losses in urine, feces, and skin; positive balance indicates anabolism, negative balance indicates catabolism or inadequate intake.

Glycemic load

Glycemic load equals glycemic index multiplied by available carbohydrate in grams, divided by 100; it combines carbohydrate quality with the quantity consumed.

Essential fatty acids

Linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) cannot be synthesized by humans and must come from diet; they support membranes and eicosanoid production.

Heme versus non-heme iron

Heme iron from animal tissue is absorbed more efficiently than plant non-heme iron; vitamin C enhances non-heme absorption while phytates, tannins, and calcium inhibit it.

Body mass index formula

BMI equals weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared; a value of 25.0-29.9 indicates overweight and 30 or above indicates obesity.

Hamwi ideal body weight

Men: 106 lb for the first 5 feet plus 6 lb per additional inch. Women: 100 lb for the first 5 feet plus 5 lb per additional inch.

Clinically significant weight loss

Loss exceeding 5% of usual body weight in one month, or more than 10% in six months, warrants nutrition intervention and further assessment.

Prealbumin versus albumin

Prealbumin has a roughly 2-day half-life and reflects short-term change; albumin's half-life is about 20 days. Both fall with inflammation independent of nutrition.

24-hour urine urea nitrogen

UUN estimates protein catabolism; estimated protein intake in grams approximates (UUN + 4) multiplied by 6.25 when renal function is stable.

PES statement

A nutrition diagnosis written as Problem, Etiology, and Signs/Symptoms: the problem 'related to' the etiology, 'as evidenced by' measurable signs and symptoms.

Nutrition diagnosis types

Standardized nutrition diagnoses fall into intake, clinical, and behavioral-environmental domains; each describes a problem that nutrition intervention can prevent or resolve.

Choosing the etiology

The etiology explains why the problem exists and directs intervention selection; the signs and symptoms supply the indicators used later for monitoring and evaluation.

Refeeding syndrome prevention

Start feeding at 10-20 kcal/kg, give thiamine before or with the first feeding, and monitor phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium daily during the first week.

Enteral versus parenteral route

Use the gut when it functions: gastric feeding is preferred, post-pyloric if gastroparesis or aspiration risk is high, and parenteral nutrition only when enteral feeding is contraindicated or insufficient.

Parenteral energy yields

In parenteral nutrition, dextrose provides 3.4 kcal per gram, amino acids 4 kcal per gram, and lipid emulsions about 9 to 10 kcal per gram.

When to start nutrition support

Consider nutrition support when oral intake has been inadequate for seven or more days, or earlier if the patient is already malnourished or highly catabolic.

Monitoring indicator selection

Select indicators from the signs and symptoms named in the PES statement; they must be relevant, accurate, reliable, and feasible to measure repeatedly.

Evaluating goal attainment

Compare measured outcomes against stated goals and reference standards, document the result as met, partially met, or not met, then revise the plan accordingly.

Weight change interpretation

Short-term weight shifts often reflect fluid balance rather than tissue change; interpret trends alongside intake, edema, diuretic use, and laboratory data.

Stages of change

Precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance; interventions should match the client's current stage rather than assume readiness to act.

OARS in motivational interviewing

Open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries; these skills build engagement and reduce resistance more effectively than persuasion or directive advice.

Teach-back method

Ask the client to explain the plan in their own words to confirm understanding; it detects gaps that a simple 'Do you understand?' question misses.

PICO question

Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome frame a focused clinical question that guides the literature search and critical appraisal.

Number needed to treat

NNT equals 1 divided by the absolute risk reduction; it expresses how many patients must be treated for one additional person to benefit.

Intention-to-treat analysis

Analyzing all participants in the groups to which they were originally randomized; this preserves the benefits of randomization and limits attrition bias.

ADIME note format

Assessment, Diagnosis, Intervention, Monitoring and Evaluation: the standardized documentation sequence linking assessment data to diagnosis, plan, and follow-up.

Scope of practice

The range of services a professional is legally and competently permitted to provide; outside that range the practitioner must refer or consult.

Four ethical principles

Autonomy (respecting choice), beneficence (doing good), nonmaleficence (avoiding harm), and justice (fair distribution of benefits and burdens).

Conflict of interest disclosure

Financial or personal interests that could bias professional judgment, such as supplement industry funding, must be disclosed and managed, with biased recommendations avoided.

Break-even volume

Fixed costs divided by the difference between price per unit and variable cost per unit; the result is the number of units needed to cover total costs.

MNT CPT codes

97802 is the initial medical nutrition therapy assessment, 97803 is reassessment and intervention, and 97804 is a group session; each unit represents 15 minutes.