A Critique Paper on

The Nutritional Care Process and Model Part 1: The 2008 Update

On July, 2008, the Writing Group of the Nutrition Care Process/ Standardized
Language Committee wrote an article which focuses on the update of the
Nutrition Care Process and Model. The said article defined and presented a series
of facts, backgrounds, and the different components of the said four-step process
and briefly described the elements present in the model.

As defined in the piece; “The Nutrition Care Process and Model (NCPM) is
a systematic problem-solving method that food and nutrition professionals use to
think critically and make decisions that address practice-related problems.” The
said process contains four distinct but interrelated steps which are the nutrition
assessment, nutrition diagnosis, nutrition intervention and nutrition monitoring and
evaluation. As the article stated, in theory, each of the step informs the
subsequent step. However, as new information is obtained, a registered dietician
may revisit previous steps of the process to reassess, add, or revise nutrition
diagnoses, modify interventions or adjust goals and monitoring parameters.
Furthermore, the NCPM is designed to incorporate a scientific base that moves
food and nutrition professionals beyond experience-based practice to evidence-
based practice. Also, the article further discusses on the components as well as
the outside areas of the graphic representation of the NCPM which includes the
various systems revolving around food and nutrition in general specifically the
practice setting, health care system, social system, economic aspect and etc.

Upon reading the article, I’ve seen how the authors deliberately described
each phase of the process. It was efficient that they were able to include the
definition, purpose, tools and other components which are helpful to most readers
to fully understand or comprehend each part or stage necessary for the
completion of the said process. The thought that they also distinguish and sited
 A Critique Paper on
The Nutritional Care Process and Model Part 1: The 2008 Update

the distinction between the NCPM and Medical Nutrition Therapy is also
commendable.

The influence and scope of the NCPM has grew over time. It has now been
incorporated in practice, education, credentialing of RDs and DTRs, and
materials supporting evidence-based practice. If all these will continue, the
Nutrition Care Process and Model will soon be widely known and understood
within the profession- which I think is a good idea for the reason that this particular
method or tool is very systematic and efficient for food and nutrition professionals
to use. Its scope is wide and it covers a wide array of aspects and systems which
concerns the client or patient as a whole which therefore, in turn allows the
nutrition professional to fully and comprehensively assess the client and come up
with the right diagnosis, be able to generate certain interventions which is
applicable to the given circumstance and thoroughly evaluate the progress
made and whether or not the goals or expected outcomes were met.