Nutrition

Details

Title

Nutrition

Type

Stage Two

Module code

HLS130

Requirement

Compulsory

Module objective

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect of competencies in the clinical biochemistry of nutrition, be able to:

• analyse, synthesise, evaluate and apply knowledge
• perform a range of technical and clinical skills and procedures
• demonstrate the attitudes and behaviours necessary for professional practice as a consultant clinical scientist dealing with the complexities, uncertainties and tensions of professional practice at this level.

(N.B. Items in italics would probably not be encountered universally)

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate the ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesise relevant knowledge and its application to their professional practice in relation to:

• the normal physiology and clinical biochemistry of human nutrition
• the causes, investigation, diagnosis, monitoring and management of:
  • protein-energy malnutrition
  • markers of nutritional status
  • effects and investigation of vitamin deficiency or excess
  • trace element deficiency or excess
  • principles and practical nutritional support – parenteral and enteral
  • re-feeding syndrome
  • biochemistry of starvation
• obesity: investigation, classification, risk factors, complications
• nutritional management of disease
• the protein-energy malnutrition found in the following conditions:
  • acute disease: stroke, myocardial infarction, acute renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, acute liver failure
  • chronic disease: inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, short bowel syndrome, cancer, gall bladder disease, malabsorption
  • pre- and post-op nutritional assessment, management for oesophagectomy, malignancy, major abdominal surgery
• burns, multiple injury, systemic sepsis.

Technical and clinical skills

By the end of the training period the trainee will be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of current relevant research, theory and knowledge and its application to the performance of the following technical procedures and laboratory skills:

• the technical aspects of the biochemical assessment of nutritional deficiencies, treatment, and appropriate clinical and laboratory monitoring of patients receiving nutritional support
• the laboratory investigations of disorders of nutrition.

By the end of the training period trainees will, in respect of the competencies in the clinical biochemistry of nutrition, be able to perform the clinical skills necessary to manage under supervision:

• liaison with the clinical team on the appropriate specimen collection, specimen handling, investigation, diagnosis, interpretation and monitoring of biochemical tests in disorders of nutrition.