PES Statements
PES Statements (Problem, Etiology, Signs/Symptoms Statements) are a standardized way that nutrition professionals document patient nutrition issues. Think of it as a nutrition-focused diagnosis that tells the story of what's wrong (Problem), why it's happening (Etiology), and how we can tell there's an issue (Signs/Symptoms). It's similar to how doctors write medical diagnoses, but specifically for nutrition care. When you see this on a resume, it shows the candidate knows how to properly assess and document nutrition problems following the industry standard created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Examples in Resumes
Documented over 500 PES Statements for acute care patients
Created and reviewed PES documentation for long-term care facility residents
Trained new dietitians on proper PES Statement writing and documentation
Implemented standardized Problem, Etiology, Signs and Symptoms Statements in electronic health records
Typical job title: "Registered Dietitians"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Registered Dietitians
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you improve PES statement documentation processes in a clinical setting?
Expected Answer: A senior dietitian should discuss standardization methods, training programs for staff, quality assurance measures, and how to integrate PES statements effectively into electronic health records while maintaining efficiency.
Q: How do you ensure your team writes effective PES statements that support quality patient care?
Expected Answer: Should explain methods for reviewing statements, mentoring staff, implementing quality checks, and connecting PES statements to measurable patient outcomes.
Mid Level Questions
Q: Can you explain how you select the most appropriate nutrition diagnosis for a PES statement?
Expected Answer: Should describe the process of analyzing patient data, prioritizing nutrition problems, and choosing the most relevant diagnosis that will lead to effective interventions.
Q: How do you link your PES statements to your nutrition intervention plans?
Expected Answer: Should explain how they use the diagnosis to guide treatment choices and how they ensure the connection between identified problems and planned interventions.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What are the three components of a PES statement?
Expected Answer: Should clearly explain Problem (what's wrong), Etiology (why it's happening), and Signs/Symptoms (evidence of the problem) in simple terms with a basic example.
Q: Why are PES statements important in nutrition care?
Expected Answer: Should explain that PES statements help standardize nutrition care, communicate problems clearly to other healthcare providers, and track patient progress.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic PES statement writing
- Understanding of common nutrition diagnoses
- Documentation in electronic health records
- Following standard formatting guidelines
Mid (2-5 years)
- Complex PES statement development
- Quality assessment of statements
- Training others in basic PES writing
- Connecting diagnoses to care plans
Senior (5+ years)
- Program development for PES documentation
- Staff training and mentoring
- Quality improvement initiatives
- Policy development for documentation
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unable to format basic PES statements correctly
- Lack of understanding of nutrition diagnoses
- Poor documentation skills
- Cannot explain the connection between PES statements and care plans
- No experience with electronic health records
