How might oral nutrition supplements be documented in MDS?

• A. Under therapeutic diet order if dx of malnutrition
• B. In the medication administration record
• C. In the social work notes
• D. In the discharge plan

Answer: (A)

Oral nutrition supplements belong in the therapeutic diet portion of the care plan when malnutrition is present or suspected. In the MDS, nutrition interventions are documented as part of diet prescriptions rather than as medications, so recording the supplement under a therapeutic diet order ensures the team knows it’s a diet-based therapy and can monitor intake, progress, and adjustments. It’s not placed in the medication administration record, which is reserved for drugs; social work notes don’t capture ongoing dietary interventions, and the discharge plan focuses on post-discharge care rather than in-facility nutrition management. If a resident with malnutrition requires a supplement, the diet order would specify the type and amount, and MDS documentation would reflect this as part of the nutrition care plan.