Protein energy malnutrition
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
Protein energy malnutrition
Also testable as: PEM, protein-calorie malnutrition
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Inadequate protein and/or calorie intake, malabsorption, chronic disease, poverty, neglect, or increased metabolic demand.
- Insufficient energy and protein impair growth, immunity, wound healing, fluid balance, and muscle mass.
Medications
No specific medication class was seeded for this card.
Signs / symptoms
- Malnutrition priorities are assessment, safety, infection prevention, and cautious nutrition restoration.
- Edema does not rule out severe protein deficiency.
Nursing actions
- Assess weight trends, growth pattern, edema, muscle wasting, intake history, food access, swallowing, GI losses, and infection risk.
- Monitor albumin/prealbumin only in clinical context; inflammation and hydration can alter interpretation.
- Advance nutrition as ordered and monitor for refeeding-risk cues in severe malnutrition.
Complications
- Infection
- Poor wound healing
- Growth delay
- Fluid/electrolyte shifts
- Refeeding syndrome
NCLEX cues
- Malnutrition priorities are assessment, safety, infection prevention, and cautious nutrition restoration.
- Edema does not rule out severe protein deficiency.
Memory hooks
- PEM affects protein, energy, edema, and muscle.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Weight trend
- Diet history
- Albumin
- Prealbumin
- Electrolytes
- Glucose
Review notes
- Generated from the nutrition entity graph. Verify against ATI/school nutrition materials before validation.
Cross references
Related cards are generated from the shared study map, not hand-built per page.
Condition card for Protein energy malnutrition: recognize the testable cue, prevent the complication, and choose the safest first nursing action.
Edema with malnutrition points toward protein deficiency.
Severe wasting suggests calorie and protein deficiency.
Potential dangerous electrolyte and fluid shifts when nutrition is restarted after severe malnutrition or starvation.
Major blood protein made by the liver that helps maintain oncotic pressure.
Shorter half-life protein marker sometimes trended in nutrition assessment.
Malnutrition pattern caused by inadequate protein and/or calorie intake or use.