Integration of the nutrition care review in a coordinated undergraduate program

The nutrition care review is viewed by today's dietitian as a vital tool in assuring quality care and effective utilization of health care facilities and resources. This project sought to include the principles and process of a nutrition care review in the curriculum of a coordinated undergraduate dietetics program. Didactic instruction included discussion of the components and steps in the process, with emphasis on peer review. Building on this knowledge, students developed general standards and criteria for assigned review topics. As accepted by the entire class, the criteria represented measurable characteristics used for peer evaluations of case study presentations made by each student. All students agreed that involvement in the process assisted them in recognizing problems in nutrition care delivery and in developing corrective and/or more efficient alternatives.