During a nutritional assessment, why is it important for the nurse to ask a patient what medications he or she is taking?

Medications need to be documented in the record for the physician's review.

The nurse needs to assess the patient for allergic reactions.

Certain drugs can affect the metabolism of nutrients.

Medications can affect one's memory and ability to identify food eaten in the last 24 hours.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A rationale

While documenting medications is important for the physician's review, this is not the primary nutritional assessment reason for asking about medications. The focus here is on how medications interact with nutritional status.

Choice B rationale

Assessing for allergic reactions to medications is crucial for patient safety, but it is a separate aspect of medication history and not directly related to the metabolism of nutrients during a nutritional assessment.

Choice C rationale

Certain medications can significantly interfere with the absorption, metabolism, and excretion of various nutrients. For example, some drugs can increase nutrient excretion, decrease appetite, or alter the body's ability to utilize vitamins and minerals, directly impacting nutritional status.

Choice D rationale

While some medications can affect memory and thus the accuracy of a 24-hour food recall, the more direct and critical reason for asking about medications during a nutritional assessment is to identify potential drug-nutrient interactions that affect metabolism.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A rationale

After menopause, the ovaries significantly reduce estrogen and progesterone production. These hormones play a crucial role in maintaining the size and elasticity of breast tissue, including the glandular and fat components. With decreased hormonal support, these tissues atrophy, leading to a reduction in breast volume and a loss of skin elasticity, consequently causing the breasts to sag.

Choice B rationale

While adequate protein intake is essential for overall muscle health, including the pectoral muscles that lie beneath the breasts, it does not directly prevent the atrophy of glandular and fat tissue within the breasts that occurs due to hormonal changes after menopause. Therefore, a high-protein diet alone will not counteract breast sagging caused by these physiological changes.

Choice C rationale

The breasts themselves do not contain significant amounts of muscle tissue. The support for the breasts comes primarily from Cooper's ligaments, which are connective tissues, and the skin's elasticity. Sagging is mainly attributed to the weakening of these supportive structures and the atrophy of glandular and fat tissue after menopause, not a decrease in muscle mass within the breast.

Choice D rationale

Breast sagging after menopause is a common physiological change experienced by many women, regardless of their breast size. While larger breasts may appear to sag more noticeably due to their weight, the underlying cause is hormonal changes affecting tissue elasticity and volume, which occurs in women with all breast sizes.

A. Explain to the patient where items are located on the plate according to the hours on a clock. B. Encourage eating one food at a time according to the preferences of the patient. C. Order finger foods that are permitted on the patient's diet. D. Feed the patient the prescribed meal.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A rationale

Explaining the location of food items on the plate using the clock face analogy (e.g., "your meat is at 12 o'clock, your vegetables are at 3 o'clock") provides a consistent and easily understandable spatial reference for a visually impaired patient. This method allows the patient to independently locate and access different food items, promoting autonomy during meals.

Choice B rationale

Encouraging eating one food at a time based on preference does not directly address the challenge of navigating the plate when blind. While respecting preferences is important, it doesn't provide a systematic way for the patient to know where each food item is located.

Choice C rationale

Ordering finger foods might seem helpful, but it limits the variety and nutritional balance of the patient's diet. Not all foods can be easily eaten with fingers, and this approach does not promote independence in eating a regular meal.

Choice D rationale

Feeding the patient completely removes their independence and can be disempowering. The goal is to assist the patient in maintaining as much autonomy as possible, and explaining food placement allows them to eat independently.

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During a nutritional assessment, why is it important for the nurse to ask a patient what medications he or she is taking?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A 65-year-old patient remarks that she just can't believe that her breasts "sag so much.”. She states it must be from a lack of exercise.What explanation would the nurse offer her?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A patient has been blind for several years because of complications with diabetes mellitus.Which should the nurse do to assist this patient with meals?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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