Nova Scotia Home Parenteral Nutrition Program for Adults

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The Nova Scotia Home Parenteral Nutrition Program is located at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax. This program provides inpatients of Nova Scotia Health with the support to manage their parenteral nutrition independently at home. 

Parenteral feeding is a method of delivering nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. It's used when a person can't eat or absorb nutrients properly through eating and drinking normally.  Parenteral nutrition is typically administered through a central venous catheter (CVC) inserted into a large vein, often near the collarbone or in the upper arm. The catheter provides direct access to the bloodstream for nutrient delivery.

To be accepted into the program, you must: 

• Be medically stable
• Have a non-functioning GI tract
• Require PN for greater than 6 months
• Be able to do all activities of daily living (ADL) on your own
• Have a tunneled central venous catheter (like a single lumen Hickman line) 

Accepted HPN adult patients must be transferred to the QEII as inpatients to participate in 2 to 3 weeks of teaching prior to discharge home. The Home Parenteral Nutrition team maintains regular communication with patients once home to address and manage ongoing health concerns related to parenteral nutrition.

How do I prepare for my appointment/visit? 

Your home nurse coordinator will coordinate your yearly clinic visit with the home PN team at the Victoria General Hospital. 

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