The patient had surgery 1 week earlier and has not been eating his meals and states that he has no appetite.The nurse notices that the patient has been progressively losing weight.What should the nurse do?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Frequently,the nurse will be the first to identify risk factors,such as progressive weight loss,restricted or limited fluid intake,intolerance to enteral feedings,increased energy need (burns,sepsis,and trauma),or being NPO (nothing by mouth)for 3 or more days.The assessment provides information for consulting with the nutritional support team and the physician in an effort to initiate appropriate PN.
The first sign of a developing problem is a pattern of a decline in oral food intake and reduced appetite.Assessment provides information for consulting with the nutritional support team and the physician in an effort to initiate appropriate PN.
Force feeding the patient only may lead to worse issues,especially if the patient has a nonfunctioning intestinal system.

The Patient Had Surgery 1 Week Earlier and Has Not