Practical aspects of teaching home parenteral nutrition therapy.

With the implementation of the prospective pricing system there has been a greater emphasis on discharging patients on home health care therapy. Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) has been a successful method of treating patients with compromised gastrointestinal tracts. The key to the success of these programs remains patient and family training. Adequate knowledge and skills must be demonstrated and documented in the areas of aseptic technique, procedures of catheter care, complications, and equipment, prior to discharge. This paper describes the various aspects of identifying and training patients for HPN, and some of the problems and complications that may occur.