Nutrition

NOT AVAILABLE FOR AY2026-2027

Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties

  • Course Information

    Course Number: RMDN618

    Prerequisites: Completion of Phase 1

    Length of Time: 2 Weeks (Rotation only available after Labor Day – May 1st)

    Phase Availability: Phase 2 and Phase 3

    Credit Type: Physician Assessed Patient Facing (PAPFE) or Open

    Call: No

  • Contact Information

    Program Director: Barbara Osborn, MS, RD, LDN, CDE

    Coordinator/Scheduling: Allison King (aking75@uic.edu)

    Location: OSF St. Anthony Medical Center (5666 E State St., Rockford, IL, 61108)

Narrative Description: Students will spend time with the Clinical Dietitian, attending multidisciplinary rounds, visiting, assessing and instructing patients. During the rotation the student will also spend a few hours in the following services – Wound care, GI lab for PEG placement, Cardiac Rehab education, Diabetes Education, Bariatric lap band, Pharmacy for TPN prep, and Speech Pathology for video swallow. This helps the student understand the importance of good nutrition in many disease states.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Discuss markers to determine nutrition status:
    • understand nutrition risk screening and nutritional status assessment
    • identify markers for malnutrition diagnosis (ICD-10 codes)
  2. Determine energy, protein and fluid requirements for selected patients and evaluate best method to meet those needs;
  3. Understand the different routes of administration of both enteral and parenteral nutrition and what route is indicated for specific patient problems/diagnosis;
  4. Select appropriate parenteral and enteral products based on patients calculated needs and disease state;
  5. Discuss Best Practice/Evidence Based Practice nutrition strategies and therapies for common diagnosis; and
  6. Identify common hospital diet orders and application of each.

Learning Activities:

In clinical electives taken through the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, registered students will participate in any combination of the following activities with the goal of positively impacting patient care and learning about patient conditions to achieve the course objectives. These activities include, but are not limited to: chart review, history elicitation of patients, physical exam, oral presentation, written documentation in the EHR, special topics presentations, procedural skills, participation in seminars/didactics/grand rounds, participation in development of assessment and plan for the care and treatment of patients, interpretation of patient findings either by exam or test results, literature review, case discussion, interprofessional care, simulations, and patient meetings. Students will engage in activities as directed and appropriately supervised by College Faculty.

Method of Assessment:

Direct faculty evaluation of performance and standard UIC evaluation form completed and submitted. Oral exam/dialogue, attitude and participation.

Required Reading:

  • Patient Education Materials, Krause’s Food Nutrition and Diet Therapy, Journal Articles & ASPEN Core Curriculum

Additional Resources: Krause’s Food Nutrition and Diet Therapy, ASPEN Core Curriculum

Miscellaneous Information: None