Kyrie'Baca

3/26113

xia"
,

Nutr 409 Reflection Paper

Intensive Care Unit Dietitian

Nutrition support therapy involves the provision of oral, enteral, or parenteral

nutrients with a therapeutic intent. The role of the intensive care dietitian is synonymous

with someone who is highly skilled in these modes of nutrition support therapyl. The
intensive care unit is split up into surgical (SICLD and medical (MICU) sectors. The

SICU treats trauma victims, cardiac surgery recovery, left ventricular assist devices,
fransplants,

md

general and neuro surgeries among other life-threatening surgical

procedures. The MICU treats acute respiratory distess syndrome, end stage renal

liver transplant, pancreatic diseases, kidney transplants, cardiac t;,rud 4 *. - ,tI.^. r-t*:' patients without surgery and many patients often on dialysis teatnent. Brenda O'Day, il tlijat4"'t--<'. :,---t-diseases, end stage

MS, RD, CNSC has been a dietitian in intensive care for twenty years. She is a certified

#tf:^

nutrition support clinician (CNSC) at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California
and works to develop evidence-based practice models, serves as an educator for the intensive care unit, and ef;lectively translates what is
parental feeding practices into clinical practice.

in the literature for enteral

and

Sharp Memorial Hospital

is a large organization that employs a total of

12

dietitians, three of which work in critical care on rotation. Sharp Hospital has a total

of

450 beds, 48 of which make up the intensive care unit. Additionally, the hospital has
plans to build another 5 to 7 patients per day

l0 tol2 beds to add to their intensive

care rurit. Brenda O'Day sees

hersell and 75 to 85 percent are ICU patients. Among the critical while I to 3 patients

care unit, approximately 15 to 25 patients depend on enteral support,

need parenteral support.