Digestion and Nutrition

A client weights 176 lbs. How many grams of protein should the nurse instruct this client to ingest each day?

80 grams

An older client is experiencing hemorrhoids and flatus. Which nursing diagnosis should the nurse use to guide this client's care?

Acute pain

A nurse admits an older adult client to the hospital with a diagnosis of failure to thrive. Which laboratory data should the nurse expect?

Albumin 2.8mg/dL and red blood cells 4.1 cells/mcL

The nurse suspects that an older client's diarrhea is related to medications. Which medication should the nurse consider as causing this client's problem?

Ampicillin

A daughter caring for her older father calls the nurse, stating that she's concerned about her father's chronic bad breath and stubborn plaque on his teeth. Which teeth cleaning measure should the nurse recommend for this older client?

An actual toothbrush is most effective when giving oral hygiene

The nurse suspects that an older client is experiencing stomach cancer. Which finding did the nurse use to make this clinical determination? Select all that apply.

Anorexia, Epigastric pain, weight loss

A nurse teaches an older adult about charges to nutritional requirements. Which meal choice would give evidence that the older adult understands the teaching?

Baked chicken, carrots, and angel food cake

An older client experiences heartburn, belching and regurgitation. Which diagnostic test should the nurse anticipate being prescribed for this client?

Barium swallow

A 60 year old client asks why it is so easy to gain weight but difficult to lose. What should the nurse respond to this client?

Basal metabolic rate declines by 2% for each decade of life after 25

The nurse reviews the vitamin supplements that an older client takes daily. Which supplement should the nurse recommend that the client alter the dosage?

Calcium 1200mg

The nurse notes that an older client appears pale. Which action should the nurse take to determine if the pallor is caused by a gastrointestional problem?

Check for blood in the stool

The nurse notes that an older client is scheduled for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy. For which health problem is this treatment indicated?

Cholelithiasis

An older client has just been fitted with new dentures. What should the nurse emphasize when teaching about the care of the dentures. Select all that apply.

Clean the dentures every day, Soak the dentures in water, Remove the dentures each night, Clean the gums before applying the dentures

An older male who consumes an excessive amount of calcium reports lower, right-sided abdominal pain. What should be the nurse's first action?

Collect a urine specimen

An older adult is experiencing an age-related decreased in hydrochloric acid production. The nurse should assess for what potential consequences of this? Select all that apply

Decrease in vitamin B12 absorption, Decrease in folic acid absorption, decrease in calcium absorption, Decrease in iron absorption

The nurse suspects that an older client is having problems with eating. What assessment finding caused the nurse to make this clinical determination?

Dentures in a glass of water in the bathroom

After reviewing a client's list of medications the nurse asks if the client ever experiences a dry mouth. Which medication on the list caused the nurse to ask the client this question?

Diuretic

An older client is instructed to increase dietary fiber to 30g/day. What additional information should be included with this client's teaching?

Drinking plenty of water

An older client asks for an antacid after eating dinner. What should the nurse suggest to this client?

Eat smaller meals several times a day

An older client takes warfarin sodium to treat atrial fibrillation. Which herb should the nurse instruct the client to avoid while taking this medication

Feverfew

An older male consumed a high-carbohydrate lunch and is now exhibiting signs of acute confusion. What is the priority lab the nurse should assess?

Glucose

An older client asks what can be done to enhance sleep and eliminate a nagging headache that comes on towards the end f the day. Which herb should the nurse suggest that the client limit the intake?

Green Tea

An older client has been consistently losing 5 lbs each month asks what amount of food should be eaten each day. What should the nurse use to calculate this client's daily energy needs?

Harris-Benedict equation

A nurse assesses older adults at a senior center. One older adult has a body mass index (BMI) of 15. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?

Have you been losing weight?

During a physical examination the nurse notes flaccid skin around the entrance to an older client's anus. What should the nurse suspect is occurring with this client?

Hemorrhoids

The nurse instructs a client with a hiatal hernia. Which statement indicates that teaching has been effective?

I need to stop drinking coffee

A nurse teaches a health education class for older adults about constipation. Which point should the nurse stress?

If older adults need a medication to promote bowel regularity, a bulk-forming agent is needed daily

An older client asks why he has two normal bowel movements within 30-45 minutes in the morning. Which of the following is the best response?

Incomplete emptying of the bowel is expected with age

An older adult who lives alone without air conditioning during the summer months is admitted and diagnosed with dehydration. Which assessment finding does the nurse expect to see with this condition?

Increased creatinine

An older client asks about the natural means to promote bowel elimination. What should the nurse encourage the client to incorporate into a daily routine? Select all that apply.

Increased fluid intake, increased fruit intake, a variety of vegetables, regular physical activity

An older client is concerned about bleeding gums when brushing the teeth. What should the nurse respond to this client?

It could mean you have the beginning of periodontal disease

A client with pancreatic cancer is experiencing severe pain. Which position should the nurse suggest to this client to increase comfort?

Lean forward

The adult child of an older client with stomach cancer asks what can be done to prevent the development of the disease. What should the nurse respond to this family member?

Limit the intake of red meat.

A nurse teaches older adults about nutrition. Which statement shows the nurse that the older adult requires further teaching?

My over-the-counter beta-carotene pill is appropriate long term use

A client with colorectal cancer is scheduled for a colon resection. What teaching should the nurse prepare for this client?

Ostomy care

A nurse counsels an older adult regarding nutritional requirements. Which teaching point is priority?

Overall, you don't need to take in as many calories as you used to

An older adult states he has been having heart palpitations ever since he added a vitamin and nutrient supplement to his diet. Which vitamin or nutrient should the nurse assess for on the label of the client's supplement?

Potassium

An older client reports heart palpitations and claims that she eats rhubarb daily. Which lab results should the nurse immediately review?

Potassium

The nurse is assessing a client's GI system. Which approach should the nurse use to determine the status of the client's vagus nerve?

Press a tongue depressor on the tongue and have the client say "Ah'

A nurse manager of the long-term care facility develops plans to reduce nutritional deficits. Which intervention is appropriate to include in the plan?

Promote oral care for residents multiple times each day

A nurse plans the diet for an older adult with congestive heart failure. Which of these nursing interventions would be most successful to encourage optimal nutrition?

Provide 55% of calories from complex carbohydrates

The nurse notes that an older client has difficulty swallowing a bolus of food when eating. Which suggestion should the nurse make to the health care provider based upon this observation?

Referral for a speech-language pathologist

An older adult develops diarrhea. Which is the priority intervention for the nurse?

Review the client's medication list.

An older client is having difficulty with bowel evacuation. Which action should the nurse suggest to help this client? Select all that apply

Schedule time to have a bowel movement, Add high-fiber foods into the diet, Rock the trunk from side to side while sitting on the commode

A client experiencing constipation asks which laxatives should be used. What should the nurse respond to this client?

Senna is a natural laxative that is available in tablets or tea

A client's family brings their older female family member to the emergency department, stating "She is not eating well." The nurse should assess for which sign of malnutrition?

Serum albumin level 2.7 g/100ml

An 88 year old client asks the nurse why she is prone to chronic constipation. The nurse should explain what age-related physiological change?

Slow peristalsis

An older adults states, "I just feel so full so fast, I can't eat any more." Which response is most appropriate?

Slower emptying of stomach may be the cause

The nurse is caring for an older adult who is experiencing frequent episodes of constipation. When assessing the client, the nurse should consider what potential contributing factors? Select all that apply.

Slower peristalsis, inactivity, adverse effects of medication, reduced food intake

An older client presents with decreased skin turgor; a brown, dry tongue; sunken cheeks; concentrated urine; and a blood urea value of 70 mg/DL. Based on these findings, the nurse should also assess for which priority problem?

Sodium and potassium imbalances

An older adult reports that her dentures are rubbing against her gums and causing discomfort. She is not wearing her dentures at all now and she states it will be too expensive to buy another set. What is the nurse's best response?

Sometimes dentures can be lined to ensure a proper fit

An older male client with a history of chronic heart failure is admitted to the hospital with dehydration. Which nursing measure is most important for the nurse to add to this client's plan of care?

Strict intake and output monitoring

The nurse observes nursing assistive personnel provide mouth care to an older client. For which observation should the nurse intervene?

Swabbed the lower back molars with lemon-glycerin swabs

A nurse evaluates the plan of care for a client who experienced an ischemic stroke. Which assessment finding should signal the nurse to the possibility that the client has developed dysphagia?

The client pockets food in the affected cheek during meals.

An older client receives treatment for dehydration every few months. What could be the reason why this client is unable to sustain an adequate fluid balance?

The older adult body is composed of 50% water

An older client has esophageal dysphagia. What intervention should the nurse plan for this client?

Thicken liquids

An older client asks if it is "normal" to have to move bowels twice within the same hour. What should the nurse respond to this client?

This is normal age-related changed

An older client enjoys eating coffee cake and candy throughout the day. For which potential health problem should the nurse plan interventions for this client?

Tooth decay

The results of a swallowing test confirm that a client has difficulty moving food from the mouth to the esophagus. For which type of dysphagia should the nurse identify interventions for this client?

Transfer

The nurse is teaching a class to older adults about oral health practices. What health promotion activity should the nurse recommend?

Visit a dentist every six months to detect oral diseases

A health care provider has prescribed a calcium supplement for an older adult. Which other important nutrient should the nurse teach the client to eat to promote calcium absorption?

Vitamin D and magnesium

An older client with a history of a deep vein thrombosis should be taught to avoid excessive intake of which vitamin or nutrient?

Vitamin K

An older adult client reports that he often experiences "indigestion" after each fatty foods. He states that this never used to happen to him when he was younger and asks the nurse why this is now the case. What is the nurse's best response?

With age, reduced pancreatic secretions can affect the digestion fatty foods

An older client experiencing kidney stones asks why they developed. What should the nurse respond to this client?

You might be taking too much calcium each day

A 78 year old female states she eats 3 full servings of fruits and vegetables per day. What is the nurse's best response?

You should incorporate at least 2 more servings into your diet