Introduction to Nutrition and Hydration | E-Learning Course
This nutrition and hydration course is for care and support staff who need to spot poor intake early. It covers malnutrition, dehydration, the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) and when to escalate. The course is fully online and CPD approved. You get a PDF certificate when you pass.
Food and fluid in a care setting are a patient safety issue, not a catering extra. Poor intake speeds up decline. Dehydration raises infection risk and changes mood. Staff who can name the problem in the care file can also raise it with the nurse, dietitian or GP.
What this nutrition and hydration course covers
The modules stay practical. You work through the terms used on shift, then the checks you actually have to do:
- Terms used on shift: malnutrition, dysphagia, fluid balance and screening.
- A balanced diet: what adults actually need, in food rather than in jargon.
- Older adults: where their needs differ from the general Eatwell picture.
- What raises the risk: illness, medication, isolation and swallowing problems.
- What you will see: early signs of dehydration and malnutrition in the people you support.
- Screening: how to use the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST).
- Getting fluid in: why some people drink too little, and what you can do on shift.
- Your job: what you must do when you think intake is a problem.
- Who to tell: when to raise it with a nurse, dietitian or GP.
Testing and assessment
Short checks sit through the modules. The course ends with a multiple-choice test. You need 70% in each section to pass.
Who it is for and how you access it
There is no formal entry requirement. You need enough English and maths to follow a care chart and the on-screen notes. A laptop or desktop is easier than a phone when you are looking at tables.
Login details come by email after purchase. Read the course joining instructions before you start.
Related clinical resources
Group Training & Corporate Enquiries
Do you need to train your team or purchase bulk licences? We provide flexible corporate options across our entire course catalogue to suit your organisation's schedule and budget.
- Classroom & Blended Courses: Our expert instructors can travel directly to your venue to deliver private group training. Alternatively, we can host your team at our dedicated training centre in Knutsford. This is the most cost-effective route for group compliance.
- Online E-Learning Courses: We offer volume tier discounts for corporate clients purchasing multiple training seats. Our team handles the enrolment setup on our end to get your candidates registered quickly and seamlessly.
To arrange a private group session, discuss international travel logistics, or request a custom price breakdown for bulk e-learning licences, please visit our dedicated Corporate & Bespoke Training Quotations page.
What Happens After You Book?
We make the onboarding process completely frictionless. This allows you or your team to focus entirely on your training:
- Instant Email Confirmation: The moment you complete your booking, our system automatically delivers your order confirmation and receipt straight to your inbox.
- For Online & Blended Learning Elements: Following your order confirmation, our team will validate your booking and issue your unique access keys. We release these digital platform login details as quickly as possible during normal working hours. Once received, you can log in on any device and study entirely at your own pace.
- For Classroom & Practical Sessions: Most face-to-face courses begin promptly at 09:00am. We recommend arriving 15 minutes early to settle in. Please check your specific course description page for exact daytime run timings.
- All-Inclusive Transparent Pricing: The price you see covers your registration fees, official course textbooks (where applicable), examination materials, and final certificate processing. We never charge hidden additions.
Please visit our comprehensive Joining Instructions page to review specific venue directions, local parking options, and clothing recommendations for practical modules.
Get Notified of Upcoming Course Schedules
Course availability depends entirely on your chosen delivery method:
- Online E-Learning Courses: You do not need to choose a date. Following checkout, our team will validate your booking and issue your access keys as quickly as possible during working hours. You can then begin learning immediately.
- Classroom & Blended Courses: We regularly release new open-course dates throughout the month across our training centres. To view currently active schedules, simply scroll back to the top of this page and click the green "Choose an option" dropdown menu.
If our published diary dates do not match your setting's availability, don't worry. Drop your details into the contact form below. Our team will automatically notify you the moment our next block of course schedules goes live.
Why Choose Chris Garland Training?
Chris Garland Training is a multi-award-winning, ethical training provider. We operate on the principle of Honest Stewardship. We do not treat safety compliance as a corporate checkbox exercise. Instead, we view it as a vital investment in protecting human lives.
Accreditation & Authority
- Established Quality: We deliver expert safety training with a consistent 5-star rating from thousands of corporate and private clients.
- Certified Excellence: Our courses carry full backing and certification from Chris Garland Training alongside Ofqual Regulated Awarding Organisations. They meet all Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and Ofsted standards.
- Expert Instructors: Professionally qualified instructors deliver every session. They hold enhanced DBS certificates and undergo rigorous quality assurance monitoring.
Environmentally & Socially Responsible
Your booking actively advances global sustainability and supports critical humanitarian networks through our certified eco-partnerships:
- Global Reforestation: Every course place you book funds native tree planting across heavily deforested areas with JUST ONE Tree.
- Charity Support: We proudly co-fund the life-saving aviation networks of the North West Air Ambulance Charity.
- Ocean Cleanup: Your training helps purchase beach clean kits through our active association with Surfers Against Sewage.
