A patient had surgery 1 week ago, has not been eating his meals, and states that he has no appetite.The nurse assesses that the patient has been progressively losing weight.Which intervention has the highest priority?

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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), and being NPO (nothing by mouth) for 3 or more days.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 may only lead to worse issues, especially if the patient has a nonfunctioning intestinal system.

A Patient Had Surgery 1 Week Ago, Has Not Been