Patient Care
Vitamins
minerals
Labs
Carbs, Fats, Proteins
100

Applesauce, soft vegetables, and mashed potatoes are examples of this diet for clients who have trouble chewing or swallowing.

Mechanical soft diet.

  • Easy to swallow, not much chewing needed
100

Vitamins A, D, E, and K belong to this group, which is stored in the liver and body fat and carries a greater risk of toxicity.

Fat-soluble vitamins

  • Water-soluble vitamins (B-complex and C) are not stored in large amounts, so deficiencies develop faster.
100

This mineral is part of hemoglobin and myoglobin and is needed for oxygen transport.

Iron

  • Vitamin C enhances absorption of non-heme (plant) iron. Iron carries oxygen in hemoglobin; women are at higher risk of deficiency due to menstruation.
  • pairing spinach with orange juice to boost absorption
100

State the normal fasting blood glucose range.

70–100 mg/dL

  • Insulin lowers blood glucose, and glucagon raises it. Causes of high glucose include diabetes without adequate insulin, illness, stress, and steroids.

100

This macronutrient is the body's main energy source

Carbohydrates

  • Carbohydrates also provide fiber and sweetness. Sources: bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, fruits, vegetables.
200

 A client on long-term steroids is hungry all the time. What should the nurse teach?

Avoid calorie-dense, high-fat foods to prevent rapid weight gain

  • This can help prevent weight gain blood sugar spikes
200

 Taking this B vitamin before and during early pregnancy helps prevent neural tube defects. (you can get it from leafy greens)

Folate (folic acid)

  • Folate supports DNA synthesis and red blood cell formation. Sources: leafy greens, legumes, fortified cereals, orange juice.
200

A client reports muscle weakness, confusion, and an irregular heartbeat. Which mineral is likely low?

Potassium

  • Diuretics, vomiting, and diarrhea cause potassium loss. Sources include bananas, potatoes, tomatoes, oranges, beans, and leafy greens.
200

State the desired total cholesterol level.

Less than 200 mg/dL

  • Desired LDL is under 100 mg/dL. HDL of 60 mg/dL or higher is protective, since HDL removes cholesterol from the arteries.
200

This type of fiber dissolves in water, forms a gel, and helps lower cholesterol and control blood sugar.

Soluble fiber

  • Insoluble fiber does not dissolve and prevents constipation. Barley is higher in insoluble fiber; oatmeal is higher in soluble. Recommended intake: 25–38 g/day.
300

A client misses several meals because of back-to-back diagnostic tests. What is this kind of malnutrition called?

Iatrogenic malnutrition

  • Malnutrition caused unintentionally by medical treatment or procedures. A calorie count tracks the percentage of each meal eaten.
300

This protein made by the stomach is required to absorb vitamin B12.

Intrinsic factor

  • Without it, B12 can't be absorbed, so replacement is given by injection. Vegetarians are also at risk because B12 occurs naturally only in animal foods.
300

State the recommended daily fluid intake for women and for men.

About 9 cups for women, 13 cups for men

300

 State the normal serum albumin range.

3.5–5.0 g/dL

  • Check albumin in clients at risk of malnutrition: poor wound healing, significant weight loss, or chronic illness.
300

This is the stored form of glucose, kept in the liver and muscles.



Glycogen

  • When carbohydrate is too low (fasting, low-carb diets, low insulin), the body breaks down fat and produces ketones.
400

At mealtime, which client should the nurse check first: post-surgery, type 2 diabetes, stroke with dysphagia, or a fractured wrist?

The client with a stroke and dysphagia

  • Aspiration risk is the priority. Also prioritize Parkinson's disease and altered level of consciousness.
400

High-dose supplements of this vitamin enhance warfarin's effect and increase bleeding risk.

Vitamin E

  • Can increase the effects of warfarin, vitamin K counteracts it 
400

Processed foods, canned foods, and fast food are the biggest dietary sources of this mineral.

Sodium

  • Sodium regulates fluid balance, nerve impulses, and muscle contraction. It is restricted in hypertension and kidney disease.
400

A client has a BMI of 27. Which weight category is this?

Overweight

  • Underweight < 18.5; normal 18.5–24.9; overweight 25–29.9; obese ≥ 30; morbidly obese ≥ 40. For children: 85th–94th percentile is overweight, ≥ 95th is obese.
400

Eggs, milk, meat, and fish contain all nine essential amino acids. What are these proteins called?

Complete proteins

  • Incomplete proteins (most plant foods, like grains and legumes) lack one or more essential amino acids.
500

Why is a client with end-stage kidney disease weighed daily?

To detect fluid retention

  • Can help identify any complications

  • Remember, your kidneys are the filters of the body → if they start acting up, that means all the crappy things in your body will STAY in your body. 

500

Deficiency of this vitamin is common in alcoholism

Thiamin (vitamin B1)

  • Thiamin is needed for energy metabolism and nervous system function. Deficiency causes fatigue, weakness, and neurologic problems.
500

Spinach, rhubarb, beets, and chocolate are high in this compound, which binds with calcium in urine to form kidney stones.

Oxalate (calcium oxalate stones).

  • High-oxalate foods include spinach, rhubarb, beets, peanuts, Swiss chard, chocolate, and sweet potatoes.
500

Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed with three or more risk factors. Name one.

Large waist or abdominal obesity, triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL, low HDL, BP ≥ 130/85, fasting glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL. 

  • The syndrome raises risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.
500

A client with severe burns is breaking down protein faster than they build it. Name the nitrogen balance and the metabolic state.

Negative nitrogen balance; catabolic state

  • Trauma, illness, poor nutrition, and overtraining cause negative balance. Positive nitrogen balance means an anabolic, tissue-building state.
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