Nutrition support nursing: a specialty practice: historical development

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Clinical Nutrition
• Healthcare Specialization

Background:

• The advent of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) necessitated specialized nursing expertise for safe and effective patient care.
• Early advancements in intravenous feeding technologies spurred the development of a distinct nursing specialty.
• The complexity of TPN required nurses with specific skills to manage this critical therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the development and evolution of a specialty nursing organization over two decades.
• To analyze the impact of healthcare system changes on the nutrition support nursing specialty.
• To highlight the crucial role of nurses in advancing nutrition support research and practice.

Main Methods:

• Historical analysis of a specialty organization's growth over 20 years.
• Review of the literature on nursing involvement in nutrition support.
• Examination of the influence of healthcare system dynamics on specialty development.

Main Results:

• The nutrition support nursing specialty has evolved significantly over two decades.
• Nurses' involvement was pivotal in early research and establishing the nursing role in nutrition support.
• The specialty organization adapted to dramatic changes within the healthcare system.

Conclusions:

• The establishment of a specialty organization was essential for the growth of nutrition support nursing.
• Nursing expertise is fundamental for the safe and effective administration of advanced nutritional therapies.
• Continued evolution and adaptation are key for specialty nursing organizations within changing healthcare landscapes.