CMSN(C)® study guide
CMSN(C)® · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The CMSN(C)® is a professional certification in medical-surgical nutrition for dietitians and nutrition clinicians who work with hospitalized adults and complex outpatient cases. It signals that a practitioner can move from nutritional science fundamentals through assessment, diagnosis, intervention, and monitoring without losing sight of the whole patient. The CMSN(C)® study guide has 8 sections and about 1,971 words.
01Nutrition Science Fundamentals
Candidates must be fluent in macronutrient energy yields (carbohydrate 4 kcal/g, protein 4 kcal/g, fat 9 kcal/g, alcohol 7 kcal/g), the distinction between essential and conditionally essential amino acids, and the roles of fiber fractions (soluble versus insoluble) in glycemic and lipid control. Know the fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and their absorption with dietary fat, water-soluble vitamin losses during cooking, and the major mineral functions: calcium and phosphorus in bone, iron in oxygen transport, zinc in wound healing and immunity, potassium in cardiac rhythm.
299 words, about 1 min02Assessment and Nutrition Diagnosis
The nutrition care process begins with assessment across domains: anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, dietary, and food-nutrition history. Know how to interpret body mass index, weight change percentage, triceps skinfold, and mid-arm circumference, plus biochemical markers such as albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, and inflammatory markers like CRP, which confound protein status interpretation.
284 words, about 1 min03Nutrition Intervention and Monitoring
Intervention includes food and nutrient delivery, nutrition education, counseling, and coordination of care. Candidates should know how to set SMART goals, select appropriate interventions matched to the PES etiology, and design monitoring and evaluation plans with measurable indicators and defined timeframes.
272 words, about 1 min04Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Support
Candidates must know indications for enteral nutrition (functioning gastrointestinal tract but inadequate oral intake), contraindications (bowel obstruction, ischemia, severe shock), and the preference for enteral over parenteral feeding when the gut works. Understand access routes: nasogastric, nasojejunal, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy, plus formula selection by protein, calorie density, fiber, and specialty composition.
243 words, about 1 min05Disease-Specific Nutrition Therapy
Know medical nutrition therapy for diabetes (carbohydrate consistency, glycemic control, weight management), cardiovascular disease (saturated fat reduction, fiber, sodium limits, DASH-style patterns), chronic kidney disease (protein and sodium, potassium, and phosphorus restriction by stage; dialysis increases protein needs), liver disease (protein adequacy, sodium restriction for ascites), and pulmonary disease (energy adequacy, avoiding overfeeding-related carbon dioxide load). Understand oncology nutrition, including cachexia and the role of adequate energy and protein.
233 words, about 1 min06Nutrition Counseling and Behavior Change
Candidates should understand behavior change theory, including the transtheoretical model (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance), motivational interviewing (open questions, affirmations, reflections, summaries; rolling with resistance), and self-efficacy and social cognitive theory. Know the difference between education (imparting knowledge) and counseling (facilitating change).
225 words, about 1 min07Foodservice Systems and Management
Know foodservice system types (conventional, commissary, ready-prepared, assembly-serve) and their implications for labor, equipment, and food safety. Understand Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP), temperature danger zones, and time-temperature controls.
209 words, about 1 min08Professional Practice, Ethics, and Regulation
Candidates should understand scope of practice, licensure and certification, standards of professional performance, and the code of ethics: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, justice, and veracity. Know informed consent, confidentiality, conflict of interest, and cultural humility.
206 words, about 1 min