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 A
Explanation
A) Information sharing is limited to those directly involved in the client's care: This statement reflects the principle of confidentiality and the ethical obligation to protect the client's private health information. Only healthcare providers directly involved in the client’s care should have access to their information, ensuring that it remains secure and confidential.
B) All members of the unit's healthcare team may have access to the client's chart: While many healthcare team members need access to the client's information for care coordination, this statement is misleading. Access should be limited to those directly involved in the client’s care to protect their confidentiality.
C) The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) determines who may communicate with the client: While HIPAA does set guidelines for the protection of health information and governs the sharing of health data, it does not specifically determine who may communicate with the client. Instead, it focuses on protecting their privacy.
D) The medical records are open to any hospital employee, including administration: This statement is incorrect as it violates confidentiality principles. Medical records are not accessible to all hospital employees; access is restricted to authorized personnel only, ensuring that patient information is kept confidential.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A) Muscle strength: While muscle strength can influence gait, it specifically refers to the ability of muscles to exert force against resistance. Assessing muscle strength involves different techniques, such as manual muscle testing, rather than observing arm and leg movements.
B) Gait: The observation that both arms swing freely in alternation with leg swings is a direct assessment of the patient's gait. A normal gait pattern includes coordinated movements of the arms and legs, indicating proper motor function and balance.
C) Alignment: This term refers to the positioning of the body and its parts in relation to one another. While alignment can impact gait, it is not specifically assessed by observing the movement of the arms and legs.
D) Joint function: Joint function assessment typically focuses on the range of motion, stability, and mobility of individual joints. Observing the swing of arms and legs provides insight into overall gait rather than specific joint function.