Nutrition is an integral part of nursing care. Like air, food is a basic human need. ■ Nutrition screening is used to identify patients or clients who may be at risk for malnutrition. Screening tools are simple, quick, easy to use, and rely on available data. ■ The Joint Commission stipulates that nutrition screens be performed within 24 hours of admission to a health-care facility, but facilities are free to decide what criteria to include on a screen, what findings indicate risk, and who is to conduct the screen