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Nutrition Support Certification Study Resources

Preparing for your certification exam? A.S.P.E.N. offers a wide range of resources to help you focus your preparation. Browse the resources below to see which are best for your learning style.

Books
Online Learning Programs
CD-ROMs
Guidelines and Standards
Supplemental References
Studying Strategies

Books

	The A.S.P.E.N. Nutrition Support Core Curriculum: A Case Based Approach - The Adult Patient Editor-in-Chief: Michele M. Gottschlich, PhD, RD, CNSD. American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 2007. The newest version of A.S.P.E.N.’s popular Core Curriculum focuses specifically on the adult patient and is a valuable practice-oriented professional resource and certification study tool. Objectives for each chapter guide the learning process and “Test Your Knowledge” questions evaluate existing knowledge bases. The extensive reviews of enteral and parenteral nutrition therapies provide the latest guides to best practices. Includes a searchable CD-ROM of the book’s content.
	The A.S.P.E.N. Nutrition Support Practice Manual, 2nd EditionEditor-in-Chief: Russell Merritt, MD. American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 2005. This practical “how to” manual provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on the proper implementation of enteral and parenteral nutrition. Its multidisciplinary approach makes it indispensable for all health care professionals. With an easy-to-use searchable CD-ROM and extensive chapters on AIDS, cancer, transplantation, and long-term care, the A.S.P.E.N. Nutrition Support Practice Manual, 2nd Edition is the most important manual for enteral and parenteral nutrition in the 21st century. Pocket Guide also available.
	Pediatric Nutrition Support Core Curriculum Editor: Mark Corkins, MD, CNSP. American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, 2010. The A.S.P.E.N. pediatric core curriculum focuses on the pediatric patient and the importance of nutrition to the growth and development of children. It is written with an interdisciplinary evidence-based approach and is designed to meet the educational needs of any discipline involved in the nutrition care of pediatric patients.
	Pocket Guide to Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance, 5th Ed. Editors: Ursula Heitz, RN, MSN and Mima M. Horne, RN, MS, CDE. Mosby, 2005. This handy pocket guide is the indispensable consultant for fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base disturbances and how they relate to patient care.

Online Learning Programs

A.S.P.E.N. Self-Assessment Programs
This newly revised and updated self-assessment is now online and accessible 24/7. The program is module-based, meaning you can work with ease in one content area or in many. Purchase the entire program or only the modules you need. Each module has 45-60 questions and includes a pre-test, syllabus, and post-test on the questions answered incorrectly. A practice test of 100 random questions from all modules is included with purchase of the full program.

Clinician's Compendium to Nutrition Support Therapy

The Clinician’s Compendium to Nutrition Support Therapy is an online nutrition support lecture series. The program is self-paced and accessible 24/7. The easy-to-use interface includes audio and video lectures with leading experts, interactive case studies, “test your knowledge” quizzes, faculty interviews and more.

Lecture topics included in the Compendium are: Malnutrition, Nutritional Requirements, Parenteral Nutrition, Enteral Nutrition, Disease Specific, Critical Care Issues, and Nutritional Tidbits.

This is a perfect resource for those who need to brush up on nutrition support therapy skills, new practitioners, or those preparing for certification exams. This is also a great tool for educators in need of a syllabus for students, interns, fellows, etc.

Nutrition Support Review Course

The Nutrition Support Review Course, formerly known as the Interdisciplinary Review Course is a live and interactive distance learning program that will span over eight weeks beginning on July 28, 2010 and ending on September 15, 2010. The Nutrition Support Review Course divides topics into core subjects, areas of major emphasis for practice and the certification examinations, and specialty subjects. This course will include a broad overview of the core subjects including GI physiology, nutrition assessment, parenteral nutrition and enteral nutrition. The review of specialty areas, such as pediatric nutrition support, statistics, home care, critical care and drug nutrient interactions, is intended to hit the highlights of the subject. Don’t miss this invaluable review of nutrition support therapy!

CD-ROMs

Writing Parenteral Nutrition Orders CDROM Tutorial
Editor-in-Chief: Ainsley Malone, MS, RD, CNSD. A.S.P.E.N., 2005.

Strengthen your parenteral nutrition (PN) order-writing skills with A.S.P.E.N.’s interactive CDROM tutorial! The CD features four interactive case studies with neonatal, pediatric, adult medical and adult surgical patients. Practitioners and students will learn the process for designing safe and effective PN formulations. This tutorial contains all the up-to-date resources needed to guide you in providing safe and optimal care for patients on parenteral nutrition. Use your knowledge to benefit patients and educate other healthcare professionals. Perform a nutrition assessment to estimate nutrient requirements

Identify the appropriate type of vascular access device for administration of PN
Design a safe and appropriate PN formulation including macronutrients, electrolytes, minerals, trace elements and vitamins
Monitor for response and complications related to PN therapy
Facilitate the transition from inpatient to home PN

Guidelines and Standards

A.S.P.E.N.'s Clinical Guidelines, Standards of Practice, and Safe Practices provide clinical advice to the health care professional administering specialized nutrition support for adult and pediatric patients in the hospital or home. These documents are available online in a searchable Guidelines and Standards Library and in printable format for both members and Library subscribers. Access the Library.

Supplemental Resources

Bakerman's ABC's of Interpretive Laboratory Data, 4th Edition
Editor: Seymour Bakerman, MD, PhD. Interpretive Laboratory Data, 2002.
The best-selling clinical lab test interpretation book for 20 years! This reference is used by residents, physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and others for fast, accurate lab data interpretation. It includes an alphabetical listing of 500 common and uncommon laboratory tests and test panels, with information on specimen, reference range and interpretation.

Nutrition Support for the Critically Ill Patient: A Guide to Practice
Edited by Gail Cresci, MS, RD, CNSD

This practical reference is designed for clinicians working in a critical care setting. The text differs from other books in that it focuses on the critically ill patient and details state-of-the-art practices that are evidence-based. Not only does it present the rationale and support that rationale scientifically, but it also provides methods for practical application of the science. Further, it also discusses ethical and economic issues for nutrition support in the ICU. The book provides a comprehensive resource that focuses exclusively on the nutritional needs of the patient, including metabolism issues, assessment, nutrient delivery, and lifecycle considerations, such as pregnancy and older age.

Nutritional Assessment, Fourth Edition

Editor: Rober D. Lee, DrPH, RD;

David C. Nieman, DrPH, FACSM. 2006

This text describes the four major methods of nutritional assessment (dietary, anthropometric, biometric, and clinical) in an understandable and contemporary way. It thoroughly covers assessment of the hospitalized individual, but also serves as an invaluable resource to the nutrition professional working in such areas as public health and community nutrition, corporate health, and sports medicine.

Suggested Studying Strategies

Assess areas of strength and weakness by using the online Self-Assessment Program
If you need a thorough review of nutrition support therapy use The Clinician’s Compendium to Nutrition Support Therapy.
Strengthen your patient-based decision making by reviewing case studies in The A.S.P.E.N. Nutrition Support Core Curriculum: Case-Based Approach-The Adult Patient
Quickly pinpoint and review the latest information in your areas of weakness by searching the CD-ROM in The A.S.P.E.N. Nutrition Support Practice Manual, 2nd edition
If you are primarily an adult practitioner, use the Pediatric Nutrition Support in Your Pocket to review pediatric basics
If you need strengthening in parenteral nutrition, review the Writing Parenteral Nutrition Orders CD-ROM Tutorial and Safe Practices for Parenteral Nutrition Formulations which focus on decision making and optimal PN ordering, compounding, administration, and monitoring
Test your knowledge by practicing on the Test Your Knowledge Questions in The A.S.P.E.N. Nutrition Support Core Curriculum: Case-Based Approach-The Adult Patient
Practice online (computer-based) testing by taking the practice tests in the online Self-Assessment Program
Use the Guidelines and Standards Library to search for particular facts, formulas and definitions you need to review
Start a study group with colleagues in your institution or local chapter. Ask a certified nutrition support clinician you know to participate in this group, or find a study buddy.

Disclaimer: The references listed above may be of some help in preparing for the examinations offered by the ABPNS, BPS, or NBNSC. The list does not attempt to include all acceptable references nor is it suggested that the certification examinations are necessarily based on these references.