Factors Affecting Nutrition

Every question here, with the answer

1. An older adult recovering from a stroke reports difficulty swallowing meals. Which nursing response best addresses the nutrition concern described in this section?

   1. Evaluate the patient’s ability to swallow and assess whether food intake is adequate.
   2. Assume the patient’s nutritional status is unrelated to the stroke.
   3. Focus nutrition teaching only on reducing calories to prevent chronic disease.
   4. Encourage the patient to increase acidic and spicy foods to stimulate appetite.

   Answer: Evaluate the patient’s ability to swallow and assess whether food intake is adequate.

   Stroke-related dysphagia can interfere with the patient’s ability to ingest food safely and adequately. The other options ignore the swallowing problem or recommend restrictions that apply to different conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease.

2. A pregnant patient asks how nutrition needs change during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Which teaching points are appropriate? Select all that apply.

   1. Choose a nutrient-dense diet because caloric needs increase during pregnancy.
   2. Avoid prenatal vitamins if eating regular meals.
   3. Prenatal vitamins may be advised to help meet needs for micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, iodine, choline, and vitamin D.
   4. Nutrition needs continue during lactation.
   5. Increasing intake of pasteurized dairy, eggs, and lean proteins is a healthy way to increase these nutrients.

   Answer: Choose a nutrient-dense diet because caloric needs increase during pregnancy., Prenatal vitamins may be advised to help meet needs for micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, iodine, choline, and vitamin D., Nutrition needs continue during lactation., Increasing intake of pasteurized dairy, eggs, and lean proteins is a healthy way to increase these nutrients.

   Pregnancy and lactation increase nutritional requirements, and the section specifically supports nutrient-dense foods, prenatal vitamins, and pasteurized dairy, eggs, and lean proteins. Avoiding prenatal vitamins is not supported because the section states they are advised to meet increased micronutrient requirements.

3. A nurse is planning meals for a hospitalized patient from a cultural background unfamiliar to the nurse. Which action best demonstrates patient-centered nutritional care?

   1. Explain that hospital nutrition plans should replace cultural food practices.
   2. Ask the patient about food preferences and offer healthy choices when possible.
   3. Use the patient’s ethnicity to predict which foods should be ordered.
   4. Limit assessment to religious restrictions and avoid asking about preferences.

   Answer: Ask the patient about food preferences and offer healthy choices when possible.

   The section emphasizes that nurses should not assume dietary patterns based on culture or ethnicity. Asking each patient about preferences supports adequate intake while respecting cultural identity.

4. A community health nurse is assessing nutrition risk in a low-income neighborhood. Which findings or actions are consistent with the section? Select all that apply.

   1. Ask whether fresh produce and foodstuffs are too expensive or unavailable in the area.
   2. Assume patients with higher incomes are immune from nutrition concerns.
   3. Assess whether the patient has routine access to nutritious foods.
   4. Consider private resources such as Meals on Wheels America when appropriate.
   5. Refer eligible patients to supplemental assistance programs such as SNAP or WIC.

   Answer: Ask whether fresh produce and foodstuffs are too expensive or unavailable in the area., Assess whether the patient has routine access to nutritious foods., Consider private resources such as Meals on Wheels America when appropriate., Refer eligible patients to supplemental assistance programs such as SNAP or WIC.

   Lower income, limited access to fresh foods, and food deserts can reduce access to nutritious food, and the section identifies SNAP, WIC, and Meals on Wheels America as resources. Higher income does not eliminate nutrition concerns because easy access to excess calories and nutrient-poor foods can also create risk.

5. During medication reconciliation, a patient says, “I only take vitamins and workout supplements, not real medicine.” What is the nurse’s best response?

   1. Ask specifically about all over-the-counter supplements the patient takes.
   2. Advise the patient to increase fat-soluble vitamin intake to prevent deficiency.
   3. Document that the patient takes no substances that affect care.
   4. Tell the patient supplements are safe if they are sold without a prescription.

   Answer: Ask specifically about all over-the-counter supplements the patient takes.

   The section states that nurses should ask about over-the-counter supplements because patients may not recognize risks. Supplements can interact with prescription medications or cause toxicity, especially when overused.

6. A nurse is teaching a patient who takes several prescription medications and wants to improve nutrition. Which teaching or assessment points are supported by the section? Select all that apply.

   1. Ask about foods and nutrients that may interfere with medication action.
   2. Tell the patient that food-drug interactions cause only deficiencies, not toxicities.
   3. Explain that some drugs should be taken with food to increase absorption.
   4. Teach that vitamin K in green leafy vegetables can decrease the effectiveness of some anticoagulants.
   5. Review medication side effects because some can affect appetite, intake, absorption, or fluid and electrolyte balance.

   Answer: Ask about foods and nutrients that may interfere with medication action., Explain that some drugs should be taken with food to increase absorption., Teach that vitamin K in green leafy vegetables can decrease the effectiveness of some anticoagulants., Review medication side effects because some can affect appetite, intake, absorption, or fluid and electrolyte balance.

   The nurse should consider direct and indirect medication effects on nutritional status and assess for food-drug interactions. The section notes that food-drug interactions can cause either deficiencies or toxicities, so the statement that they cause only deficiencies is incorrect.