Nutrition in ICU patient

Abstract

Critically ill patients need appropriate nutritional supplementation for their energy requirements during their intensive care unit (ICU) stay and even after ICU stay.Any critical illness is a catabolic state. Adequate supplementation of nutrition attenuates the stress response and modulates immune responses. The aim of nutritional supplementation is to supplement both macro-and micronutrient requirements. Careful supplementation of protein and caloric intake can avoid under- and overfeeding and will decrease the hospital stay and morbidity. Route of supplementation, that is, oral, enteral, or parenteral depends on the patient’s hemodynamic status and gastrointestinal functioning. Initiation of feeding within 24–48 hours of critical illness has been recommended. Nurses are having important role in providing and maintain nutritional level of the patient in ICU. So assessment of nutritional status, identification of needs and role of nurse in providing nutrition in ICU Patient these can improve quality of care and reduce Hospital stay of patient.