Nutrition And Hydration - NCLEX Rn
- Identify the total intake in mL: mL juice + mL soup + mL water.
- mL. Represents the cumulative volume of all consumed fluids for accurate intake monitoring.
- Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with peaked T waves on ECG?
- Hyperkalemia. Elevated potassium alters cardiac conduction, producing distinctive ECG changes.
- Identify the best indicator of adequate enteral feeding tolerance.
- Absence of nausea, vomiting, abdominal distention, and diarrhea. Demonstrates gastrointestinal tolerance without signs of malabsorption or distress.
- Which finding is most consistent with fluid volume deficit?
- Tachycardia. Compensatory mechanism to maintain cardiac output amid reduced circulating volume.
- What is the formula to calculate IV flow rate in mL/hr from volume and time?
- . Divides total infusion volume by duration to determine the hourly administration rate.
- Which diet consistency is typically recommended for dysphagia to reduce aspiration?
- Thickened liquids and texture-modified foods as ordered. Thicker consistencies slow bolus transit, allowing better control and reducing aspiration risk.
- Which electrolyte is most critical to monitor for refeeding syndrome complications?
- Phosphorus. Hypophosphatemia is a hallmark due to insulin-driven intracellular shifts during refeeding.
- Which electrolyte imbalance is most associated with muscle weakness and dysrhythmias?
- Hypokalemia. Low potassium impairs neuromuscular function and cardiac repolarization.
- Which diet is most appropriate for a client with heart failure and fluid retention?
- Low-sodium diet. Reduces sodium-induced fluid retention, alleviating cardiac strain and edema.
- Which client position is safest during oral feeding to reduce aspiration risk?
- High-Fowler position (upright at ). Promotes gravity-assisted swallowing and minimizes the risk of food or liquid entering the airway.
- What is the priority nursing assessment to detect dehydration in an older adult?
- Orthostatic vital signs (postural hypotension). Detects volume depletion through blood pressure drop upon position change due to reduced preload.
- Which nutrient deficiency is classically associated with rickets/osteomalacia?
- Vitamin D deficiency. Impairs calcium and phosphate metabolism, resulting in defective bone mineralization.
- Which route is preferred for nutrition support when the gastrointestinal tract is functional?
- Enteral feeding. Preserves gut mucosa, reduces translocation risks, and is more cost-effective than parenteral.
- Which vitamin deficiency is most associated with megaloblastic anemia in pregnancy?
- Folate (vitamin B9) deficiency. Essential for DNA synthesis, and lack during rapid cell division causes macrocytic anemia.
- Which nutrient deficiency is classically associated with scurvy?
- Vitamin C deficiency. Ascorbic acid is essential for collagen synthesis, and its absence leads to connective tissue fragility.
- Which diet is most appropriate for a client with chronic kidney disease and hyperkalemia?
- Low-potassium diet. Restricts potassium to compensate for reduced renal excretion in kidney dysfunction.
- What is the priority intervention if a client coughs or gurgles during feeding?
- Stop feeding and assess airway/swallowing immediately. These signs may indicate aspiration, requiring prompt evaluation to maintain airway patency.
- What is the priority nursing action to prevent refeeding syndrome in severe malnutrition?
- Initiate nutrition slowly and monitor electrolytes closely. Gradual reintroduction prevents rapid metabolic shifts and electrolyte imbalances.
- What is the most appropriate nursing action before feeding a client with dysphagia?
- Perform a swallow screening/assessment before oral intake. Ensures safe swallowing to prevent aspiration pneumonia in clients with impaired deglutition.
- Which finding is most consistent with fluid volume excess?
- Crackles on lung auscultation. Indicates pulmonary edema from fluid overload, as excess volume fills alveolar spaces.
- Which vitamin deficiency is most associated with night blindness?
- Vitamin A deficiency. Retinol is vital for visual pigment formation, and deficiency impairs low-light adaptation.
- What is the expected urine output goal for adequate adult renal perfusion?
- At least mL/hr. Reflects adequate glomerular filtration rate and hydration status in adults.
- What is the priority dietary teaching for a client on warfarin therapy?
- Maintain consistent vitamin K intake (do not vary day to day). Consistency stabilizes INR by avoiding fluctuations in vitamin K antagonism of warfarin.
- Identify the IV pump rate for mL to infuse over hours.
- mL/hr. Derived from dividing total volume by infusion time for accurate pump programming.
- Which laboratory value is the most direct indicator of long-term glycemic control?
- Hemoglobin A1c. Reflects average blood glucose over 2-3 months via glycated hemoglobin percentage.