How can a nurse best assess a patient's dietary habits effect on their overall health?
Obtain a height and weight and calculate a body mass index (BMI)
Review all medications the patient is taking
Ask about how much food is eaten at an average meal
Assess for the presence of any chronic disease processes
The Correct Answer is A
A) Obtain a height and weight and calculate a body mass index (BMI): Calculating BMI provides a valuable assessment of a patient’s body composition and overall health related to dietary habits. BMI is a widely used indicator that helps categorize individuals into underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese categories. Understanding where a patient falls within these categories can highlight the potential impact of dietary habits on health and guide further dietary interventions or education.
B) Review all medications the patient is taking: While reviewing medications is important, it primarily focuses on pharmacological management rather than directly assessing dietary habits. Some medications may have dietary restrictions or require specific nutrient intake, but this does not provide a comprehensive view of the patient's overall dietary habits and their effects on health.
C) Ask about how much food is eaten at an average meal: While inquiring about portion sizes is relevant, it does not give a full picture of dietary habits, including food variety, nutrient quality, and frequency of meals or snacks. A single question about average meal size may overlook other critical aspects of the patient’s eating patterns and nutritional intake.
D) Assess for the presence of any chronic disease processes: Evaluating chronic diseases is crucial for understanding health implications, but it does not directly assess dietary habits. Chronic conditions can be influenced by diet, but the assessment of dietary habits requires a more direct inquiry into nutritional intake and lifestyle choices rather than focusing solely on disease presence.
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Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A) Re-assess in 15 minutes: While regular assessments are important in a neurological evaluation, if the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score is 15, indicating the patient is fully alert and oriented, there may not be an immediate need to re-assess so soon unless the patient's condition changes.
B) Ask the patient to open eyes on command: If the GCS score is already determined to be 15, this indicates that the patient is responsive and capable of opening their eyes spontaneously. Asking the patient to open their eyes is unnecessary in this context since the score already reflects full responsiveness.
C) Document the findings: Documenting the GCS score of 15 is crucial as it establishes a baseline for the patient’s neurological status. This documentation is essential for ongoing assessments and monitoring, providing a record of the patient’s condition at this moment.
D) Notify the physician: Notifying the physician is not required for a GCS score of 15, as this score indicates a normal level of consciousness. Communication with the physician would be warranted only if there were changes in the patient's condition or a lower GCS score observed.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A) Safety issues with an unsupervised resident in the lounge area: While there could be safety concerns related to a resident being in a common area at night, the primary outcome expected from continued insomnia would more directly relate to the individual's functioning rather than immediate safety issues.
B) Onset of cardiac dysfunction: While chronic sleep disturbances can contribute to various health problems, including cardiovascular issues, the immediate outcome of insomnia is more likely to be seen in daily functioning rather than a direct onset of cardiac dysfunction.
C) Onset of new underdiagnosed health problems: While ongoing insomnia may exacerbate existing health issues or lead to new ones over time, the most immediate and observable outcome of insomnia would relate to how it affects daily functioning rather than the development of new health problems.
D) The ability to function during the day may be hindered by these episodes: Insomnia typically leads to increased fatigue, decreased alertness, and impaired cognitive function during the day. As a result, the resident's overall ability to engage in daily activities and interact socially may be significantly hindered by their lack of restorative sleep.