Clinical Nutrition and Diet Therapy

Instructor Information

• Instructor: Dr. Elena Pereira (Assistant Professor of Nutrition)
• Email: epereira@university.alkimi.ai
• Office: Calder Health Sciences Building 324
• Office Hours:
  • Monday & Thursday: 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (In person, Calder Health Sciences Building 324)
  • Friday: 9:00–10:00 a.m. (Virtual via Zoom; link posted in Canvas)
  • Also available by appointment.

Course Description

Nutrient metabolism, dietary assessment, and medical nutrition therapy for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal and gastrointestinal disorders, and enteral and parenteral nutrition, for nursing and health science students. NUTR 205 provides nursing and allied health students with the scientific foundations of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and dietary management across acute and chronic illnesses. Focusing on clinical assessment and bedside nursing interventions, students examine metabolic alterations associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, renal failure, liver disorders, and gastrointestinal pathology. Significant emphasis is placed on clinical decision-making for enteral and parenteral nutrition, food-drug interactions, and evidence-based nutritional care across the lifespan.

Prerequisites

BIO 201 and CHEM 101.

Measurable Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of NUTR 205, students will be able to:

1. Analyze Nutrient Digestion and Clinical Metabolism: Explain the biochemical digestion, absorption, and metabolic utilization of macronutrients and micronutrients under healthy and pathological conditions.
2. Perform Nutritional Assessment and Risk Screening: Utilize anthropometric measurements, biochemical laboratory markers, clinical indicators, and dietary intake data to identify protein-calorie malnutrition in hospitalized patients.
3. Apply Medical Nutrition Therapy for Chronic Disease: Develop individualized medical nutrition therapy care plans for patients presenting with hypertension, heart failure, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and cirrhosis.
4. Manage Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Therapies: Calculate caloric and protein requirements, select appropriate enteral formulas and parenteral admixtures, monitor refeeding syndrome risks, and mitigate catheter complications.
5. Integrate Nutrition into Bedside Nursing Practice: Formulate interprofessional nursing interventions, assess food-drug interactions, and deliver culturally sensitive nutritional education to patients and families.

Required Course Materials & Approximate Costs

1. Dudek, Susan G. Nutrition Essentials for Nursing Practice. 9th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2021. Approx. $85 print, $50 digital rental.
2. Raymond, Janice L., and Kelly Morrow. Krause and Mahan's Food and the Nutrition Care Process. 16th ed., Elsevier, 2022. Approx. $110 print or digital.
3. Total estimated cost: $110 to $160.

Generative AI Policy (AI Level 2: AI Permitted with Disclosure for Specified Tasks)

In accordance with Alkimi University Academic Policies (Student Handbook §5.8), NUTR 205 operates under AI Level 2.

• What is permitted: You may use generative AI tools to brainstorm patient education analogies for dietary restrictions, generate practice questions on nutrient-drug interactions, and review drafts of patient education brochures for language clarity.
• What is prohibited: You may not use generative AI to calculate enteral or parenteral nutrition infusion rates, formulate medical nutrition therapy recommendations for clinical case studies, or complete quiz and exam questions. Safe clinical calculations must be performed independently.
• Disclosure: All submitted clinical case assignments and patient education projects must include an AI disclosure statement detailing any tools used and their specific contribution. If no AI tools were used, state: 'No generative AI tools were used in preparing this work.'

Grading Components and Weights

• Examination 1: 15% (In class, Thursday, October 1)
• Examination 2: 15% (In class, Thursday, November 12)
• Clinical Nutrition Care Plan & Patient Case Study: 20% (Due Friday, October 23 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Clinical Calculations: 15% (Due Friday, November 20 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Weekly Clinical Nutrition Canvas Quizzes: 15% (Due Mondays at 11:59 p.m. in Canvas; lowest quiz score dropped)
• Final Examination: 20% (Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 8:00–10:00 a.m.)

Grading Scale (Alkimi University Standard)

• A: 93–100% | A-: 90–92%
• B+: 87–89% | B: 83–86% | B-: 80–82%
• C+: 77–79% | C: 73–76% | C-: 70–72%
• D+: 67–69% | D: 60–66% | F: Below 60%
• Extra credit: No extra credit assignments are offered in this course.

Course Schedule (Fall 2026)

Course Policies

Attendance Policy

Punctual attendance and engagement in case discussions are expected. Because clinical nutrition therapy directly affects patient safety and pharmacotherapy in bedside nursing, class simulations and clinical calculation exercises cannot be replicated independently. Please notify Dr. Pereira in advance if clinical rotations or acute illness prevent your attendance. Students who miss the first two class meetings without notifying the instructor may be dropped. Students may miss class for religious observance without penalty if they notify the instructor in writing within the first two weeks of the semester (by Wednesday, September 9, 2026). Absences for university-sponsored activities (athletics, performances, conferences) are excused with a letter from the sponsoring office at least one week in advance.

Late Work Policy

Assignments submitted after the deadline will be penalized 10% per calendar day up to three days. Submissions after 72 hours will receive a score of zero. Quizzes close promptly at the designated time on Canvas and cannot be made up without formal medical documentation.

Nursing Progression and Clinical Safety Standard

For students enrolled in the pre-licensure BSN program, NUTR 205 is a required foundational course. Consistent with School of Nursing policy, students must achieve a grade of C or higher to maintain academic progression in the nursing sequence.

Final Exam Policy

The final examination (Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 8:00–10:00 a.m.) is scheduled by the University Registrar and can't be moved without the Dean's written approval (Faculty Handbook §5.5). A student with three or more final exams on the same calendar day may reschedule one of them. Requests go to the instructor of the middle exam by the last day of classes. For this term, send the request by Wednesday, December 9, 2026 (Student Handbook §6.4).