During assignment to the Metabolic Support Service at Atlanta Medical Center, senior students will be introduced to the principles and techniques of nutritional support (enteral and parental) in a major private hospital setting, including trauma and critical care.

During this educational experience, the student will be allowed to make daily rounds with members of the Metabolic Support Service (i.e., physician, nurse, dietitian, pharmacist and trauma team).

There will be lectures on the principles and concepts of total parental protein sparing and enteral alimentation. In addition, the student will have an opportunity to participate in consultations, the initial work-up prior to beginning nutritional support, and daily follow-up monitoring.

The student will receive instruction in assessment of nutritional status, potential metabolic complications, complications associated with the insertion of central venous catheters and the use of nutritional support in hepatic and renal failure. Attention also will be devoted to formulation of solutions, drug interactions and composition of tube-feeding formulas.

To supplement lectures and clinical experience, teaching rounds will be conducted weekly with all members of the health care team (Infection Control, Pathology and Pharmacy). During these rounds, adherence to protocols, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, and individual patient recommendations will be discussed.

The student will have the opportunity to read and study current references on the methods of nutritional support provided by the Medical Library and Metabolic Support Service.