Course detail
Fluids, Food Charts and Malnutrition Screening
This theory-based course provides practical awareness of nutrition, hydration, food and fluid monitoring and malnutrition screening for carers, senior carers, nurses and other adult health and social care staff in England. It explains how poor intake, dehydration and malnutrition affect health; how food and fluid charts should be completed accurately; how changes in weight and intake should be recognised and escalated; and how validated malnutrition screening supports timely action.
Topics
35
Duration
2h
Quiz pass mark
100%
Course structure
Learning path
Topics are completed in order before the final assessment unlocks.
Course Description
1. Introduction: why nutrition and hydration matter
2. Legal and regulatory framework
3. Nutrition, hydration and person-centred care
4. Recognising malnutrition and nutritional risk
5. Recognising dehydration and fluid-balance concerns
6. Who is at increased risk?
7. Assessment, care planning and review
8. Food charts: purpose and when to use them
9. How to complete a food chart accurately
10. Fluid charts: purpose and when to use them
11. How to measure and record fluid intake
12. Fluid output and when it matters
13. Setting individual food and fluid goals
14. Monitoring intake: patterns matter more than isolated numbers
15. Weight monitoring and unplanned weight loss
16. Malnutrition screening and validated tools
17. Understanding MUST: awareness of the five-step approach
18. What to do after a malnutrition screening result
19. Supporting eating: environment, dignity and independence
20. Supporting drinking and hydration
21. Dysphagia, texture-modified diets and thickened fluids
22. Oral nutrition support and prescribed supplements
23. Enteral and parenteral nutrition: awareness and role limits
24. Nutrition, hydration and dementia
25. Nutrition, hydration and end-of-life care
26. Diabetes, kidney/heart disease and other special considerations
27. Care homes: practical considerations
28. Domiciliary care: practical considerations
29. Supported living: practical considerations
30. Escalation, documentation and handover
31. Governance, audit and learning
32. Practical scenarios
33. Key learning points
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING
Final quiz
Final step20 questions and 100% required to pass and receive the certificate.
