NU 311 Exam 4 |Study Questions and
Answers |2026 Update
Know the types of therapeutic diets -Correct Answer ✔--clear diet
-full liquid
-pureed
-mechanical/dental soft
-soft/low residue; low fiber
-high fiber
-regular
Clear Liquid Diet -Correct Answer ✔-Foods that are clear and liquid at room or
body temperature that leave little residue and are easily absorbed; commonly
ordered for short-term use (24 to 48 hours) after surgery, before diagnostic tests,
and after episodes of diarrhea and vomiting.
Examples: water, apple/cranberry juice, gelatin, popsicles
Full Liquid Diet -Correct Answer ✔-Includes foods on clear-liquid diet plus addition
of smooth-textured dairy products like milk and ice cream, strained soups,
custard, refined cooked cereals, vegetable juice, and pureed vegetables;
commonly ordered before or after surgery for patients who are acutely ill from
infection or for patients who cannot chew or tolerate solid foods.
Pureed -Correct Answer ✔-Includes foods on clear- and full-liquid diet plus easily
swallowed foods that do not require chewing (scrambled eggs, pureed meats,
vegetables and fruits, mashed potatoes);
ordered for patients with head and neck abnormalities or who have had oral
surgery; can be modified for low sodium, fat, or calorie count.
,Mechanical/ Dental Soft -Correct Answer ✔-Consists of all previous diets plus
addition of lightly seasoned ground or finely diced meats, flaked fish, cottage
cheese, cheese, rice, potatoes, pancakes, light breads, cooked vegetables, cooked
or canned fruits, peanut butter; AVOID tough meats, nuts, bacon, and fruits with
tough skin or membranes
Soft/ low residue; low fiber -Correct Answer ✔-Addition of low fiber, easily
digested foods such as pastas, casseroles, moist tender meats, and canned
cooked fruits and veggies; includes foods that are easy to chew and simply
cooked. Does NOT permit fatty, rich, and fried foods
High Fiber -Correct Answer ✔-Addition of fresh uncooked fruits, steamed veggies,
bran, oatmeal and dried fruits; includes sufficient amounts of ingestible
carbohydrates to relieve constipation, increase GI motility, and increase stool
weight
Regular Diet -Correct Answer ✔-NO dietary restrictions
Restricted Fluids -Correct Answer ✔-required in severe heart failure or kidney
failure
Sodium Restriction -Correct Answer ✔--Allows low levels of sodium and may
include a 4g (no added salt), 2g (moderate), 1g (strict), or 500mg (very strict)
-ordered for pt's with heart failure, renal failure, cirrhosis, hypertension
Fat modified -Correct Answer ✔--low total and saturated fat and low cholesterol
intake limited to < 300mg daily, and fat intake 30% to 35%
,-eliminates/reduces fatty foods for hypercholesterolemia, malabsorption
disorders, diarrhea
Diabetic -Correct Answer ✔-allows for patients to select amount of food from
basic food groups
What are the risk factors for nutritional problems? -Correct Answer ✔--Clear/Full-
liquid diets for more than 3 days without or with inappropriate/insufficient
nutrient supplementation.
-IV feeding (dextrose or saline) or NPO for more than 3 days without
supplementation.
-Low intakes of prescribed diet/tube feedings.
-Weight 20% above or 10% below desirable body weight (accounting for edema).
-Pregnancy weight gain deviating from normal patterns.
-Diagnoses that increase nutritional needs, decrease nutrient intake, or both:
Cancer, malabsorption, diarrhea, hyperthyroidism, excessive- inflammation,
postoperative status, hemorrhage, infected/draining wounds, burns, infection,
major trauma.
-Chronic use of drugs (especially alcohol).
-Alterations in chewing, swallowing, appetite, taste, and smell.
, -Body temperature consistently above 37° C (98.6° F) for more than 2 days.
-Hemocrit : <43% in men, <37% in women.
-Hemaglobin: <14 g/dL in men, <12 g/dL in women.
-Absolute decrease in lymphocyte count ( <1500 cells/mm3).
-Elevated (>250 mg/dL)/Decreased ( <130 mg/dL ) total plasma cholesterol.
-Serum albumin <3 g/dL in patients without renal or liver disease, generalized
dermatitis, overhydration.
How to assist with feeding patients -Correct Answer ✔-1. Prepare patient's room
for mealtime.
a. Perform hand hygiene. Clear over-bed table.
b. Help patient to comfortable sitting position in
chair or place bed in high-Fowler's
position. If patient is unable to sit, turn him or
her on side with head of bed
elevated.
2. Prepare patient for meal.
a. Help patient with pain relief and elimination
needs and help him or her perform hand
Answers |2026 Update
Know the types of therapeutic diets -Correct Answer ✔--clear diet
-full liquid
-pureed
-mechanical/dental soft
-soft/low residue; low fiber
-high fiber
-regular
Clear Liquid Diet -Correct Answer ✔-Foods that are clear and liquid at room or
body temperature that leave little residue and are easily absorbed; commonly
ordered for short-term use (24 to 48 hours) after surgery, before diagnostic tests,
and after episodes of diarrhea and vomiting.
Examples: water, apple/cranberry juice, gelatin, popsicles
Full Liquid Diet -Correct Answer ✔-Includes foods on clear-liquid diet plus addition
of smooth-textured dairy products like milk and ice cream, strained soups,
custard, refined cooked cereals, vegetable juice, and pureed vegetables;
commonly ordered before or after surgery for patients who are acutely ill from
infection or for patients who cannot chew or tolerate solid foods.
Pureed -Correct Answer ✔-Includes foods on clear- and full-liquid diet plus easily
swallowed foods that do not require chewing (scrambled eggs, pureed meats,
vegetables and fruits, mashed potatoes);
ordered for patients with head and neck abnormalities or who have had oral
surgery; can be modified for low sodium, fat, or calorie count.
,Mechanical/ Dental Soft -Correct Answer ✔-Consists of all previous diets plus
addition of lightly seasoned ground or finely diced meats, flaked fish, cottage
cheese, cheese, rice, potatoes, pancakes, light breads, cooked vegetables, cooked
or canned fruits, peanut butter; AVOID tough meats, nuts, bacon, and fruits with
tough skin or membranes
Soft/ low residue; low fiber -Correct Answer ✔-Addition of low fiber, easily
digested foods such as pastas, casseroles, moist tender meats, and canned
cooked fruits and veggies; includes foods that are easy to chew and simply
cooked. Does NOT permit fatty, rich, and fried foods
High Fiber -Correct Answer ✔-Addition of fresh uncooked fruits, steamed veggies,
bran, oatmeal and dried fruits; includes sufficient amounts of ingestible
carbohydrates to relieve constipation, increase GI motility, and increase stool
weight
Regular Diet -Correct Answer ✔-NO dietary restrictions
Restricted Fluids -Correct Answer ✔-required in severe heart failure or kidney
failure
Sodium Restriction -Correct Answer ✔--Allows low levels of sodium and may
include a 4g (no added salt), 2g (moderate), 1g (strict), or 500mg (very strict)
-ordered for pt's with heart failure, renal failure, cirrhosis, hypertension
Fat modified -Correct Answer ✔--low total and saturated fat and low cholesterol
intake limited to < 300mg daily, and fat intake 30% to 35%
,-eliminates/reduces fatty foods for hypercholesterolemia, malabsorption
disorders, diarrhea
Diabetic -Correct Answer ✔-allows for patients to select amount of food from
basic food groups
What are the risk factors for nutritional problems? -Correct Answer ✔--Clear/Full-
liquid diets for more than 3 days without or with inappropriate/insufficient
nutrient supplementation.
-IV feeding (dextrose or saline) or NPO for more than 3 days without
supplementation.
-Low intakes of prescribed diet/tube feedings.
-Weight 20% above or 10% below desirable body weight (accounting for edema).
-Pregnancy weight gain deviating from normal patterns.
-Diagnoses that increase nutritional needs, decrease nutrient intake, or both:
Cancer, malabsorption, diarrhea, hyperthyroidism, excessive- inflammation,
postoperative status, hemorrhage, infected/draining wounds, burns, infection,
major trauma.
-Chronic use of drugs (especially alcohol).
-Alterations in chewing, swallowing, appetite, taste, and smell.
, -Body temperature consistently above 37° C (98.6° F) for more than 2 days.
-Hemocrit : <43% in men, <37% in women.
-Hemaglobin: <14 g/dL in men, <12 g/dL in women.
-Absolute decrease in lymphocyte count ( <1500 cells/mm3).
-Elevated (>250 mg/dL)/Decreased ( <130 mg/dL ) total plasma cholesterol.
-Serum albumin <3 g/dL in patients without renal or liver disease, generalized
dermatitis, overhydration.
How to assist with feeding patients -Correct Answer ✔-1. Prepare patient's room
for mealtime.
a. Perform hand hygiene. Clear over-bed table.
b. Help patient to comfortable sitting position in
chair or place bed in high-Fowler's
position. If patient is unable to sit, turn him or
her on side with head of bed
elevated.
2. Prepare patient for meal.
a. Help patient with pain relief and elimination
needs and help him or her perform hand
