NCLEX Nutrition Practice Questions

NCLEX Nutrition Practice Questions ScienceMedicineNursing andreakdcruzTop creator on Quizlet Save Nutrition NCLEX questions 121 terms Alexis_Pottock Preview Geriatrics NCLEX Questions 30 terms marissaxxcarol Preview Fluid and Electrolytes NCLEX Quest...33 terms Alex_Hassiepen Preview Ch 42 L 16 terms lizz One of the challenges in meeting the nutritional needs of the elderly is that the elderly:

• Have decreased need for almost all nutrients.
• Have decreased caloric needs but constant or increased needs for vitamins and minerals.
• Often have significant problems with dentition that affect their ability to masticate most food.
• Lose interest in eating a balanced diet.
• Have decreased caloric needs but constant or increased needs for vitamins and minerals.

Rationale: A decreasing metabolic rate (or resting energy expenditure) means fewer calories are required, but the DRI for most nutrients remains unchanged or may be increased in the elderly thus necessitating careful dietary planning to meet those needs. Loss of interest in food may mean physiologic problems exist. Dental problems for the elderly are not nearly as common today as they were a generation ago.When an elderly person is hospitalized with pneumonia, what would be the best action by the nurse to encourage eating?

• Provide small, more frequent meals.
• Secure an order for a daily multivitamin to stimulate appetite.
• Provide a high calorie snack of the client's choice.
• Make sure the client is adequately hydrated.
• Provide small, more frequent meals.

Rationale: An elderly person is more likely to eat if portions are small, more frequent, and nutrient dense as opposed to a full meal tray three times a day. A vitamin will not stimulate appetite. Snacks are not necessary if small frequent meals are provided. Hydration is always important but fluids do not provide the nutrients needed for healing.

What preventive measures might the nurse teach the elderly to prevent constipation?

• Use a stool softener once a week.
• Chew food thoroughly before swallowing.
• Drink coffee or tea only in the morning.
• Drink a glass of water several times a day.
• Drink a glass of water several times a day.

Rationale: Adequate fluid intake, along with adequate fiber, is the best dietary measures to prevent constipation. Daily stool softeners can lead to dependency on them for bowel movements. Chewing is important but will not prevent or control constipation. Coffee or tea taken only once per day will not supply enough fluid to prevent constipation.What type of diet will the nurse recommend to most healthy elderly clients?

• A balanced 1,100-calories per day diet
• A diet high in complex carbohydrates and fiber
• A diet low in fat and protein
• A diet low in fat with a moderate amount of carbohydrates
• A diet high in complex carbohydrates and fiber

Rationale: Complex carbohydrates and fiber provide some protein in addition to necessary vitamins and minerals. They aid digestion and have a lower glycemic load. For an active, healthy elderly person 1,200 calories per day will not be adequate to prevent weight loss. Inadequate protein does not allow for tissue maintenance and repair. High carbohydrate diets do not provide adequate balance to caloric distribution.An elderly client has been admitted to a nursing home and the nurse completes an assessment. Which finding may lead the nurse to suspect a nutritional alteration?

• Pale tongue
• Thinning hair
• Ridged nails
• Moist conjunctiva
• Ridged nails

Rationale: Ridged, spoon-shaped nails are signs of long-term nutritional deficiencies. Thinning hair is consistent with aging. Moist conjunctiva are signs of nutritional balance. A pale tongue, in the absence of other pathology, does not signify nutritional inadequacy.The elderly client who wants to take an herbal supplement for arthritis symptoms should be advised to:

• Read labels very carefully prior to making a selection because the supplements are usually quite expensive.
• Consult his or her healthcare provider about possible interactions with current medications.
• Verify the supplement's effectiveness with friends or family members who have taken it.
• Reconsider the idea because the supplement may have serious side effects.
• Consult his or her healthcare provider about possible interactions with current medications.

Rationale: Herbal supplements may be of unknown quality and may also interact with medications. Serious side effects are more likely when used with some prescription medications. Family or friends are not the best source of health information.

Good dietary sources of vitamin D include which of the following? Select all that apply:

• Cheeses and yogurt
• Liver
• Fortified milk
• Fish and oils
• Liver
• Fortified milk
• Fish and oils

Rationale: While good sources of calcium, cheese and yogurt are not mandated to be fortified with vitamin D. It would take approximately 6 cups of milk per day to meet the daily recommendations for vitamin D (note: The prevalence of lactose intolerance increases in the elderly).Intake of vitamin D is insufficient for many elderly, who will need supplementation to meet minimum requirements of 800 IU if over age 70.When working with elderly clients who require an increased consumption of complete protein, the nurse recommends:

• Legumes.
• Yogurt.
• Iron fortified cereal.
• Whole grain bread.
• Yogurt.

Rationale: After eggs and meats, dairy products are the best source of complete protein. Legumes, cereal, and bread have some protein but it is incomplete protein.

An appropriate dietary intervention for an elderly client with dysphagia is to:

• Serve smaller, more frequent meals.
• Serve foods at room temperature.
• Provide a full liquid diet.
• Thicken thin liquids.
• Thicken thin liquids.

Rationale: Dysphagia means difficulty with swallowing. Liquids that are thickened are easier to swallow and less likely to cause the client to choke or gag. The frequency or temperature of foods does not affect the ability to swallow.

A primary goal of dietary intervention for the elderly is to:

• Prevent complications from chronic conditions.
• Improve digestion and metabolism.
• Maintain quality of life.
• Treat acute conditions.
• Maintain quality of life.

Rationale: Dietary assessment and early intervention can improve the overall quality of life and possibly prevent disease or illness. Most acute conditions are not treated primarily by dietary intervention. Digestion occurs in the GI tract and metabolism occurs at the cellular level.

Which nutrient is most likely to be deficient in elderly residents of nursing homes?

• Phosphorus
• Vitamin D
• Protein
• Vitamin B
• Vitamin D

Rationale: The elderly have greater need for vitamin D due to decreased absorption, decreased dietary intake, and lack of exposure to sunlight.Phosphorus, protein, and vitamin B are more readily obtained through dietary means.The loss of lean muscle mass that occurs with aging can be diminished or reversed by:

• Anaerobic exercise.
• High protein diets.
• Strength training exercises.
• Small doses of anabolic hormones.
• Strength training exercises.

Rationale: Resistance exercises, such as lifting weights, have been shown to increase muscle mass in the elderly. Anaerobic exercises, high protein diets, and anabolic steroids are not effective in reducing loss of muscle mass or increasing muscle mass.

The absorption of iron in the elderly may be diminished in the presence of:

• Antacids.
• Diuretics.
• Vitamin C.
• Milk.
• Antacids.

Rationale: Anything that interferes with the production of hydrochloric acid interferes with the absorption of iron and should be avoided when trying to promote iron absorption. Diuretics, vitamin C, and milk do not affect iron absorption.Risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency include which of the following? Select all that apply.

• History of gastric bypass surgery
• Use of antacids or acid-lowering surgery
• Folic acid supplementation
• History of depression
• History of gastric bypass surgery
• History of depression

Rationale: B12 is absorbed in the ileum bound to intrinsic factor made in the stomach. Gastric bypass and diminished stomach acidity can reduce the absorption of B12. Folic acid supplementation can reverse macrocytic anemia, which often is used as a diagnostic indicator of B12 deficiency. Depression can be a result of B12 deficiency.