Dietitians in Nutrition Support (DNS) DPG

Dietitians in Nutrition Support (DNS) DPG

Practitioners integrating the science of enteral and parenteral nutrition to provide appropriate nutrition support to individuals in inpatient and outpatient settings, including transplantation, home care and pediatrics.


Dietetic Practice Group #24
Visit DNS's Web site at www.dnsdpg.org/.

Membership in DNS offers an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues and contribute to the profession of dietetics. Benefits include:

  • Support Line, a bimonthly peer-reviewed publication providing current clinical practice articles and interpretations of current research, and offering free continuing professional education credits for each issue
  • A lively Web site featuring DNS and ADA news, reports on legislative events, technological advances, Web pages on home care, transplant and pediatric issues, research updates and a clinical topic forum
  • Professional and student scholarships for continuing education
  • Research fund
  • A writer's mentoring program to help members prepare articles for publication
  • A speaker’s bureau to assist members in linking with speaking venues
  • DNS members continue to develop new products to promote member skill development. Currently available products include:
    • A physical assessment video and study guide
    • Enteral and parenteral slide sets with script
DNSDPG.org
Special features include:
  • Online copies of Support Line and CPEUs for each issue
  • The Member Forum, where you can submit and discuss topics of interest
  • Officer pages and contact information
  • Author guidelines for Support Line
  • Writer’s Mentoring Program information
  • Speaker’s Bureau Application Forms
  • DNS Research Award Application
  • ADA Professional Issues Delegate Reports
  • and much, much more.

DNS Officers:

Membership Total:
3496 (updated May 31, 2008)

Newsletter Name and Unique Features

  • Support Line is a bimonthly publication: peer reviewed, indexed in Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, including continuing professional education articles and opportunities, and a question and answer column (Inquire Here). For a subscription, contact Jamie Diamond, MMS, PA-C, RD, 561/859-4923 or Jammeo@aol.com, $50 for non-ADA eligible individuals and $100 for institutions per year.

Quality Management

  • American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) and American Dietetic Association (ADA): "Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance for Registered Dietitians (Generalist, Specialty and Advanced) in Nutrition Support"
  • MNT Protocol: Enteral Nutrition in Acute Care/Adults.

ADA Positions Involvement

  • Nutrition intervention in the care of persons with human immunodeficiency virus infection
  • The role of the registered dietitian in enteral and parenteral nutrition support
  • Functional foods
  • Ethical dilemmas in nutrition and hydration across the lifecycle
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy and Pharmacotherapy
  • Scope of Dietetics Practice Framework

Other Education Materials

  • Nutrition Assessment Pocket Guide, 1st edition, Editors: Pam Charney, cdpamela1002@qwest.net and Ainsley Malone, ainsleym@earthlink.net  
  • Pocket Guide to Enteral Nutrition, Editors: Pam Charney, cdpamela1002@qwest.net and Ainsley Malone, ainsleym@earthlink.net  
  • Comprehensive Guide to Transplant Nutrition, Editors: Jeanette Hasse, Linda Blue. Order from the ADA online catalog (http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/shop_16357_ENU_HTML.htm).
  • Nutrition Focused Physical Assessment: this is a 30-minute video highlighting the RD demonstrating the tools and techniques of physical assessment, and performing the physical assessment and examination.  Video includes a study guide.
  • Enteral Nutrition for Adult Patients and Parenteral Nutrition for Adult Patients: The slide presentations and scripts can be used for grand rounds, medical school, allied health and dietetic educational programs. Each kit includes 60 to 70 slides, complete with referenced text which encompasses indications and contraindications, current knowledge and recommendations, benefits, complications, and monitoring of enteral and parenteral therapies. For further information or to order any of these products, please visit the online catalog.

Current DNS Projects:

  • DNS is proud to offer Skills Workshops, educational events focusing on advanced skills for dietitians, which include feeding tube placement and physical assessment. Upcoming sessions are planned for Charleston, SC, September 26 and 27, 2008 and Clinical Nutrition Week 2009 in New Orleans on January 31, 2009. 
  • DNS is also offering hands-on nutrition support focused workshops on the Nutrition Care Process at FNCE 2008 in Chicago, October 25, 2008 and at linical Nutrition Week 2009 in New Orleans on January 31, 2009.
  • Evidence Analysis — Critical Illness Workgroup: Ainsley M. Malone, MS, RD, LD, CNSD, Chair — Ongoing work with evidence analysis questions will continue with revision of concluding statements and evidence summaries along with the release of the Critical Illness Toolkit, scheduled for the Fall of 2007. Refer to the following link: http://www.adaevidencelibrary.com/default.cfm?library=EAL
  • DNS was a gold-level sponsor for the A.S.P.E.N. Clinical Nutrition Week, 2008 in Chicago and will continue this level of sponsorship for 2009.  (http://www.dnsdpg.org/

Awards, Grants, Scholarships (DNS members only):


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