Nutrition care is a patient right. Patients of all ages, demographics, ethnicities, and backgrounds need nutrition to live. In some cases, an individual cannot eat enough food to maintain proper nutrition status and overall health due to an illness or medical condition. When nutrition needs cannot be met by mouth, nutrients must be supplied by a different route—this is called nutrition support therapy.
There are two main nutrition support therapies: enteral (via a feeding tube) and parenteral (via an intravenous catheter). The amount, type, and route of nutrition support are individually tailored to each patient based on needs and clinical factors.
Nutrition support professionals determine the type and route of nutrition support. They can be dietitians, pharmacists, physicians, nurses, advanced practice providers, or other healthcare providers. Nutrition support professionals may work across various healthcare settings, including, but not limited to, hospitals, outpatient clinics, homecare agencies, or long-term care facilities. They may work independently or as part of an interdisciplinary team.
Nutrition support therapy refers to providing enteral and/or parenteral nutrition to meet a patient’s nutritional needs. Nutrition support therapy is part of nutrition therapy, which is a component of medical treatment that can include oral, enteral, and parenteral nutrition to maintain or restore optimal nutrition status and health.
Disclaimer: This content has been developed for use by healthcare professionals to inform other clinicians and/or patients/caregivers. ASPEN is making this content available for informational purposes only. This content is not based on ASPEN Board Approved documents and should not be confused with ASPEN clinical guidelines as it was not developed according to ASPEN guideline processes. Recommendations provided here do not constitute medical or other professional advice and should not be taken as such. To the extent that the information presented here may be used to assist in the care of patients, the primary component of quality medical care is the result of the professional judgment of the healthcare professionals providing care. The information presented here is not a substitute for the exercise of professional judgment by healthcare professionals. Circumstances and patient specifics in clinical settings may require actions different from those recommended in this document; in those cases, the judgment of the treating professional should prevail. Use of this information does not in any way guarantee any specific benefit in outcome or survival. This tool is intended to supplement, but not replace, professional training and judgment.