What is the purpose of the nutrition diagnosis step in the Nutrition Care Process?

• A. identify the medical diagnosis of the client.
• B. plan interventions to address the nutrition problem.
• C. determine interventions, goals and expected outcomes.
• D. identify and label the nutrition problem.

Answer: (D)

In the Nutrition Care Process, the nutrition diagnosis step serves to identify and label the nutrition problem in a standardized way. This means naming the nutrition issue the client is experiencing and articulating its cause and evidence so the care team can address it consistently. The diagnosis is often expressed as a PES statement—Problem related to Etiology as evidenced by Signs/Symptoms—linking what is wrong to why it is happening and what is observed. This step is distinct from identifying a medical diagnosis or from planning and implementing interventions; it provides a clear, measurable focus for care and helps set up appropriate goals and expected outcomes. So the main purpose is to identify and label the nutrition problem.