Question 1

In order to best minimize the negative effects that a newly widowed client who lives alone has begun to experience regarding her nutritional status, the nurse suggests to her grown children that they:

Accepted Answer

The lack of companionship during mealtime that can result from depression or social isolation often results in the client eating poorly and thus developing a nutritional deficiency.

Question 2

During a nutritional assessment, a 79-year-old client responds, "My weight is fine.I weigh the same as I did 15 years ago." The nurse responds based on the understanding that older clients:

Accepted Answer

With age there is a loss of lean body mass and an increase of body fat; therefore body weight alone can be misleading.

Question 3

Based on recent surveys identifying nutritional information concerning the daily diet of older adult in America, the nurse suggests:

Accepted Answer

Recent government sponsored surveys have indicated that the average diet of the older adult is lacking in calories especially in the form of fruits and vegetables.

Question 4

A 73-year-old client is concerned about staying healthy for as long as possible.When asked what lifestyle changes the client should consider, the nurse suggests:

Accepted Answer

For the healthy aging person, exercise and the resulting maintenance of muscle mass are emerging in research as one of the greatest determinants of maintaining vitality and health

Question 5

The nurse is caring for four postsurgical clients who have experienced similar abdominal procedures and are all 68 years of age.The nurse anticipates that the client with the greatest risk for complications resulting in an extended hospitalization has:

Accepted Answer

Malnourished hospitalized clients such as those with chronic digestive disorders have a greater risk of developing infections and other complications after surgery, which can significantly increase the length and costs of hospitalization and care.

Question 6

An older adult client has been prescribed a specialized enteral formula to provide adequate nutrition after an extensive surgical procedure.The nurse anticipates and addresses a concern of many clients in this cohort when assuring her that:

Accepted Answer

Specialized enteral formulas are considerably more expensive than standard formulas and should be used only when clearly indicated. The cost of such a treatment would be of great concern to this cohort.

Question 7

An older adult client with a history of a myocardial infarction tells the nurse that he takes his daily dose of prescribed aspirin with breakfast each morning.The nurse's response is:

Accepted Answer

The absorption of aspirin occurs in the stomach and so is greatly altered by the presence of food.

Question 8

An older adult client has experienced severe nausea and vomiting for 2 days since undergoing abdominal surgery and a prealbumin serum blood test is ordered.The nurse explains the rationale for the test to the client's family by saying:

Accepted Answer

This test is sensitive to sudden demands on protein synthesis and is often used in the acute care setting.

Question 9

The nurse caring for an older adult client diagnosed with both chronic cardiac and renal disorders best minimizes the client's risk of developing dehydration as a result of being hypovolemic by:

Accepted Answer

Physiologically, the decreased intake can be related to altered thirst; older adults may not feel thirsty even when hypovolemic.

Question 10

The nurse conducting a food recall assessment on an older adult client shows an understanding of the requirements of the process when:

Accepted Answer

For accuracy and relevancy, the food recall must include specific information about the type of food ingested, the preparation method, and an accurate estimate of the amount.

Quiz 10: Nutrition