ATI Nutrition Practice Exam Questions & Answers with
Complete Solution Graded A 2023
1. A nurse is providing dietary instructions to a client with diabetes. What is most
important for the nurse to include in teaching for prevention of hypoglycemia?
a. Increase protein intake in the morning.
b. Reduce carbohydrate intake when drinking alcohol.
c. Drink orange juice if lightheadedness occurs.
d. Avoid delaying or skipping meals.
- d. Avoid delaying or skipping meals
Hypoglycemia is an important complication in the treatment of diabetes. The risk
of hypoglycemia increases as nutritional intake decreases, so it is most important
to teach the client to avoid delaying or skipping meals. Carbohydrate intake has
the greatest influence on blood glucose levels, so increasing protein in the
morning will not prevent hypoglycemic episodes. Drinking alcohol inhibits the
release of glucose from the liver; therefore it would be important to increase
carbohydrate intake when drinking alcohol. Lightheadedness is a manifestation
of hypoglycemia, and drinking orange juice would be the means to treat the
hypoglycemia, not prevent it.
2. The healthcare provider has prescribed a diet that limits purine-rich foods. Which
foods should this client avoid?
a. bananas, wine, and cheese
b. anchovies, sardines, and kidneys
c. milk, ice cream, vegetables, and yogurt
d. chicken, fish, and dried fruits
- b. anchovies, sardines, and kidneys
Anchovies, sardines, kidneys, sweetbreads, and lentils are very high in purines.
Bananas and dried fruits are high in potassium. Milk, ice cream, and yogurt are
rich in calcium. Wine, cheese, preserved fruits, meats, and vegetables contain
tyramines.
3. A physician orders a bland, full-liquid diet for a client. Which response, if made by
the client, would indicate to the nurse that the client has understood the nurse's
dietary teaching?
a. "I will have orange juice, pudding, and coffee."
b. "Today I can have apple juice, chicken broth, and vanilla ice cream."
c. "For breakfast I will choose pineapple juice, a bran muffin, and milk."
d. "I can have oatmeal, custard, and tea."
- b "Today I can have apple juice, chicken broth, and vanilla ice cream."
, A bland, full-liquid diet may include some fruit juices and foods from all of the
food groups. On this diet, the client should avoid gastric irritants, such as orange
juice, coffee, tea, colas, cocoa, breads, bran (fiber), and highly seasoned foods.
4. A nurse working in a community clinic is discussing lifestyle modifications with a
client. The client has been advised to lose weight because of a BMI greater than
25. Which statement by the nurse would be most therapeutic in helping the
client?
a. "Losing weight is a challenge that I can help you with."
b. "It will be important for you to stop having between-meal snacks."
c. "I can offer you some information outlining a variety of ways to lose
weight."
d. "There are herbal preparations for weight loss that are very effective."
- c. I can offer you some information outlining a variety of ways to lose
weight."
The therapeutic response would put the client in a position to make an individual
choice. The nurse would offer options to allow for choice. Telling the client that
losing weight is a challenge the nurse can help with puts the focus on the nurse
and does not offer options. Many weight loss plans include meals plus snacks as
well as limiting options. Offering herbal preparation also limits the options given
to the client.
5. A client has been receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for the last 5 days.
Before discontinuing the infusion, the infusion rate is slowed. What complication
of TPN infusion should the nurse assess the client for as the infusion is
discontinued?
a. dehydration
b. essential fatty acid deficiency
c. rebound hypoglycemia
d. malnutrition
- c. rebound hypoglycemia
When dextrose is abruptly discontinued, rebound hypoglycemia can occur. The
nurse should assess the client for symptoms of hypoglycemia. Essential fatty
acid deficiency is very unlikely to occur because some of these fatty acids are
stored. Preventing dehydration or malnutrition is not the reason for tapering the
infusion rate; the client's hydration and nutritional status and ability to maintain
adequate intake must be established before TPN is discontinued.
6. A client who has been vomiting for 2 days has a nasogastric tube inserted. The
nurse notes that over the past 10 hours, the tube has drained 2 L of fluid. The
nurse should further assess the client for which electrolyte imbalance?
a. hypermagnesemia
b. hypernatremia
c. hypokalemia
, d. hypocalcemia
- c. hypokalemia
Loss of electrolytes from the gastrointestinal tract through vomiting, diarrhea, or
nasogastric suction is a common cause of potassium loss, resulting in
hypokalemia. Hypermagnesemia does not result from excessive loss of
gastrointestinal fluids. Common causes of hypernatremia are water loss (as in
diabetes insipidus or osmotic diuresis) and excessive sodium intake. Common
causes of hypocalcemia include chronic renal failure, elevated phosphorus
concentration, and primary hypoparathyroidism.
7. The client with a major burn injury receives total parenteral nutrition (TPN). What
is the expected outcome of TPN?
a. Correct water and electrolyte imbalances.
b. Allow the gastrointestinal tract to rest.
c. Provide supplemental vitamins and minerals.
d. Ensure adequate caloric and protein intake.
- d. Ensure adequate caloric and protein intake
Nutritional support with sufficient calories and protein is extremely important for a
client with severe burns because of the loss of plasma protein through injured
capillaries and an increased metabolic rate. Gastric dilation and paralytic ileus
commonly occur in clients with severe burns, making oral fluids and foods
contraindicated. Water and electrolyte imbalances can be corrected by
administration of IV fluids with electrolyte additives, although TPN typically
includes all necessary electrolytes. Resting the gastrointestinal tract may help
prevent paralytic ileus, and TPN provides vitamins and minerals; however, the
primary reason for starting TPN is to provide the protein necessary for tissue
healing.
8. A nurse is teaching a client about using herbal supplements as part of the client's
healthcare regimen. What client statement indicates the nurse's teaching was
effective?
a. "If the label says that is it all natural, then it should be okay for me to use."
b. "I need to make sure that the supplement does not interact with other
meds I am taking."
c. "I can use the Internet to check out what would work the best for me."
d. "The supplements are not medications, so there is very little risk of side
effects."
- b. "I need to make sure that the supplement does not interact with other
meds I am taking."
Herbal supplements are classified as a food by the Food and Drug Administration
and as such are not regulated for quality and potency as medications are.
However, they still can cause side effects and interact with medications, thus the
need to assess each client for use of herbal remedies. A label of "all natural"
Complete Solution Graded A 2023
1. A nurse is providing dietary instructions to a client with diabetes. What is most
important for the nurse to include in teaching for prevention of hypoglycemia?
a. Increase protein intake in the morning.
b. Reduce carbohydrate intake when drinking alcohol.
c. Drink orange juice if lightheadedness occurs.
d. Avoid delaying or skipping meals.
- d. Avoid delaying or skipping meals
Hypoglycemia is an important complication in the treatment of diabetes. The risk
of hypoglycemia increases as nutritional intake decreases, so it is most important
to teach the client to avoid delaying or skipping meals. Carbohydrate intake has
the greatest influence on blood glucose levels, so increasing protein in the
morning will not prevent hypoglycemic episodes. Drinking alcohol inhibits the
release of glucose from the liver; therefore it would be important to increase
carbohydrate intake when drinking alcohol. Lightheadedness is a manifestation
of hypoglycemia, and drinking orange juice would be the means to treat the
hypoglycemia, not prevent it.
2. The healthcare provider has prescribed a diet that limits purine-rich foods. Which
foods should this client avoid?
a. bananas, wine, and cheese
b. anchovies, sardines, and kidneys
c. milk, ice cream, vegetables, and yogurt
d. chicken, fish, and dried fruits
- b. anchovies, sardines, and kidneys
Anchovies, sardines, kidneys, sweetbreads, and lentils are very high in purines.
Bananas and dried fruits are high in potassium. Milk, ice cream, and yogurt are
rich in calcium. Wine, cheese, preserved fruits, meats, and vegetables contain
tyramines.
3. A physician orders a bland, full-liquid diet for a client. Which response, if made by
the client, would indicate to the nurse that the client has understood the nurse's
dietary teaching?
a. "I will have orange juice, pudding, and coffee."
b. "Today I can have apple juice, chicken broth, and vanilla ice cream."
c. "For breakfast I will choose pineapple juice, a bran muffin, and milk."
d. "I can have oatmeal, custard, and tea."
- b "Today I can have apple juice, chicken broth, and vanilla ice cream."
, A bland, full-liquid diet may include some fruit juices and foods from all of the
food groups. On this diet, the client should avoid gastric irritants, such as orange
juice, coffee, tea, colas, cocoa, breads, bran (fiber), and highly seasoned foods.
4. A nurse working in a community clinic is discussing lifestyle modifications with a
client. The client has been advised to lose weight because of a BMI greater than
25. Which statement by the nurse would be most therapeutic in helping the
client?
a. "Losing weight is a challenge that I can help you with."
b. "It will be important for you to stop having between-meal snacks."
c. "I can offer you some information outlining a variety of ways to lose
weight."
d. "There are herbal preparations for weight loss that are very effective."
- c. I can offer you some information outlining a variety of ways to lose
weight."
The therapeutic response would put the client in a position to make an individual
choice. The nurse would offer options to allow for choice. Telling the client that
losing weight is a challenge the nurse can help with puts the focus on the nurse
and does not offer options. Many weight loss plans include meals plus snacks as
well as limiting options. Offering herbal preparation also limits the options given
to the client.
5. A client has been receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for the last 5 days.
Before discontinuing the infusion, the infusion rate is slowed. What complication
of TPN infusion should the nurse assess the client for as the infusion is
discontinued?
a. dehydration
b. essential fatty acid deficiency
c. rebound hypoglycemia
d. malnutrition
- c. rebound hypoglycemia
When dextrose is abruptly discontinued, rebound hypoglycemia can occur. The
nurse should assess the client for symptoms of hypoglycemia. Essential fatty
acid deficiency is very unlikely to occur because some of these fatty acids are
stored. Preventing dehydration or malnutrition is not the reason for tapering the
infusion rate; the client's hydration and nutritional status and ability to maintain
adequate intake must be established before TPN is discontinued.
6. A client who has been vomiting for 2 days has a nasogastric tube inserted. The
nurse notes that over the past 10 hours, the tube has drained 2 L of fluid. The
nurse should further assess the client for which electrolyte imbalance?
a. hypermagnesemia
b. hypernatremia
c. hypokalemia
, d. hypocalcemia
- c. hypokalemia
Loss of electrolytes from the gastrointestinal tract through vomiting, diarrhea, or
nasogastric suction is a common cause of potassium loss, resulting in
hypokalemia. Hypermagnesemia does not result from excessive loss of
gastrointestinal fluids. Common causes of hypernatremia are water loss (as in
diabetes insipidus or osmotic diuresis) and excessive sodium intake. Common
causes of hypocalcemia include chronic renal failure, elevated phosphorus
concentration, and primary hypoparathyroidism.
7. The client with a major burn injury receives total parenteral nutrition (TPN). What
is the expected outcome of TPN?
a. Correct water and electrolyte imbalances.
b. Allow the gastrointestinal tract to rest.
c. Provide supplemental vitamins and minerals.
d. Ensure adequate caloric and protein intake.
- d. Ensure adequate caloric and protein intake
Nutritional support with sufficient calories and protein is extremely important for a
client with severe burns because of the loss of plasma protein through injured
capillaries and an increased metabolic rate. Gastric dilation and paralytic ileus
commonly occur in clients with severe burns, making oral fluids and foods
contraindicated. Water and electrolyte imbalances can be corrected by
administration of IV fluids with electrolyte additives, although TPN typically
includes all necessary electrolytes. Resting the gastrointestinal tract may help
prevent paralytic ileus, and TPN provides vitamins and minerals; however, the
primary reason for starting TPN is to provide the protein necessary for tissue
healing.
8. A nurse is teaching a client about using herbal supplements as part of the client's
healthcare regimen. What client statement indicates the nurse's teaching was
effective?
a. "If the label says that is it all natural, then it should be okay for me to use."
b. "I need to make sure that the supplement does not interact with other
meds I am taking."
c. "I can use the Internet to check out what would work the best for me."
d. "The supplements are not medications, so there is very little risk of side
effects."
- b. "I need to make sure that the supplement does not interact with other
meds I am taking."
Herbal supplements are classified as a food by the Food and Drug Administration
and as such are not regulated for quality and potency as medications are.
However, they still can cause side effects and interact with medications, thus the
need to assess each client for use of herbal remedies. A label of "all natural"
