Nursing Elites

1. Muscle weakness due to wasting would most likely be evaluated by which test?

• A. recall of food intake
• B. skinfold thickness
• C. handgrip strength
• D. red blood cell levels

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Handgrip strength is a reliable test to assess muscle function and detect muscle weakness due to wasting. It is often used to identify conditions like sarcopenia in clinical settings. Options A, B, and D are not suitable for evaluating muscle weakness. Food intake recall does not directly measure muscle function, skinfold thickness assesses body fat but not muscle strength, and red blood cell levels are unrelated to muscle wasting.

2. A common side effect of diuretic medications is _____.

• A. dry mouth
• B. urinary tract infection
• C. increased taste perception
• D. nausea

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Diuretic medications can lead to dry mouth due to increased fluid loss through urination, reducing saliva production.

3. A patient with an ileostomy is suffering from frequent diarrhea. The clinician should advise the patient to increase his intake of what food to thicken stool output?

• A. celery
• B. salad greens
• C. potatoes
• D. dried beans and peas

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Potatoes are starchy and can help thicken stool output, making them beneficial for patients with an ileostomy experiencing diarrhea.

4. Among people who are ill, significant weight loss may be masked by?

• A. dehydration
• B. a large tumor
• C. drug therapy
• D. fluid retention

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Fluid retention can mask weight loss in ill individuals as the retained fluid adds to body weight, making it difficult to detect true fat or muscle loss. Dehydration (Choice A) would actually lead to weight loss rather than masking it. While a large tumor (Choice B) could contribute to weight loss, it would not mask the weight loss itself. Drug therapy (Choice C) may cause side effects, including weight changes, but it is unlikely to mask significant weight loss in the same way that fluid retention does.

5. The nurse is working with a patient who recently had a stroke. The patient frequently chokes and coughs when eating and is having difficulty feeding herself. What is the best way to ensure adequate nutrition?

• A. to have an aide feed her at each meal
• B. to ask a family member to assist during meals
• C. to provide tube feedings for the patient
• D. to initiate TPN for the patient

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The best way to ensure adequate nutrition for a stroke patient who frequently chokes and coughs when eating and has difficulty feeding herself is to provide tube feedings. Tube feedings are a safe and effective method to deliver nutrition directly to the stomach or intestines, bypassing the swallowing mechanism, reducing the risk of aspiration. Having an aide feed her each meal (choice A) may not address the underlying issue of swallowing difficulty and aspiration risk. Asking a family member to be present at each meal (choice B) does not provide a definitive solution to the patient's nutritional needs. Placing the patient on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) (choice D) is a more invasive and typically reserved for patients who cannot tolerate enteral feedings or have non-functional gastrointestinal tracts.

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