Clinical Nutrition

Assessment: annotated bibliography [20%], essay (2000 words) [80%]

The Clinical Nutrition module provides students with an insight into the nutritional issues encountered within a clinical setting. Dietary management, including dietary adequacy, in chronic conditions, (such as malnutrition, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies, cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease) will be explored in depth. The module will examine energy requirements in disease alongside assessing nutritional status, malnutrition screening, methods of nutrition support and their ethical considerations. This content will support the programme aim to provide a broad-based and contemporary education in nutrition. 
Embedded within the module is helping students to develop as critical thinkers and critically evaluate information from a wide variety of sources, including peer reviewed journal articles and the media. This links in with the programme aim to encourage students to inquire, analyse and have critical evidence based approach to the study of nutrition. 
The module also has a focus on ‘after graduating’, highlighting a range of graduate employment opportunities and postgraduate study. Key to this is helping the students to develop a thorough understanding of the Association of Nutrition (AfN) Standards of Ethics, Conduct and Performance and providing guidance on practicing as an associate nutritionist, this includes the legal context of nutrition practice, responsibilities and accountability to relevant policies and guidelines. This links in with the programme aim to provide a sound foundation in a scientific discipline as a basis for further study, research, professional employment and accreditation registration. 
This module offers the students a broader awareness of how nutrition impacts health, and illness, and employment/ postgraduate study opportunities. It helps students develop their critical thinking and understanding of the AfN Standards of Ethics, Conduct and Performance crucial to the graduating associate registered nutritionists. The module provides essential content for the AfN accreditation of the programme and considers employability skills suitable for associate registered nutritionists.