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Comprehensive Exam Bank on Nursing Nutrition
and Therapeutic Diets: Nutritional Assessment,
Dietary Interventions, and Patient Education
Table of Contents
Topic 1: Nutritional Assessment and Screening in Nursing Practice................................................2
Topic 2: Therapeutic Diets in Clinical Practice...............................................................................13
Topic 3: Nutrition Across the Lifespan...........................................................................................24
Topic 4: Nutrition in Disease Prevention and Management..........................................................36
Topic 5: Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Therapy........................................................................47
Topic 6: Cultural, Ethical, and Religious Considerations in Nutrition.............................................58
Topic 7: Micronutrients and Fluid-Electrolyte Balance..................................................................70
Topic 8: Nutrition Across the Lifespan...........................................................................................81
Topic 9: Clinical Nutrition in Chronic Disease Management..........................................................92
Topic 10: Special Diets, Cultural Considerations, and Patient Education....................................103
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Topic 1: Nutritional Assessment and Screening in
Nursing Practice
Question 1:
A nurse is assessing the nutritional status of a newly
admitted elderly patient. Which parameter is most
reliable for assessing long-term nutritional status?
A. Body weight
B. Serum albumin
C. 24-hour food recall
D. Triceps skinfold thickness
Correct Answer: B. Serum albumin
Rationale: Serum albumin reflects long-term protein
status and is a good indicator of chronic malnutrition.
Although it can be affected by hydration status, it is more
stable over time compared to dietary recalls or
anthropometric measurements.
Question 2:
Which tool is best used for initial nutritional risk screening
in hospitalized patients?
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A. Body Mass Index (BMI)
B. Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)
C. Skinfold measurements
D. Serum transferrin
Correct Answer: B. Malnutrition Universal Screening
Tool (MUST)
Rationale: MUST is a validated tool used to quickly
identify adults who are malnourished or at risk of
malnutrition in various care settings.
Question 3:
A patient presents with a BMI of 17.5. This measurement
suggests:
A. Normal weight
B. Underweight
C. Overweight
D. Obese
Correct Answer: B. Underweight
Rationale: A BMI less than 18.5 indicates underweight
status, which can be a sign of nutritional deficiency.
Question 4:
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Which laboratory value is most indicative of acute
changes in protein status?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Prealbumin
C. Serum albumin
D. Creatinine
Correct Answer: B. Prealbumin
Rationale: Prealbumin has a short half-life of 2–3 days,
making it a sensitive marker for acute changes in
nutritional status.
Question 5:
In assessing hydration status, which finding would most
strongly indicate dehydration?
A. Edema in lower limbs
B. Normal skin turgor
C. Elevated BUN-to-creatinine ratio
D. Weight gain
Correct Answer: C. Elevated BUN-to-creatinine ratio
Rationale: A high BUN-to-creatinine ratio often indicates
dehydration due to reduced plasma volume and renal
perfusion.
Comprehensive Exam Bank on Nursing Nutrition
and Therapeutic Diets: Nutritional Assessment,
Dietary Interventions, and Patient Education
Table of Contents
Topic 1: Nutritional Assessment and Screening in Nursing Practice................................................2
Topic 2: Therapeutic Diets in Clinical Practice...............................................................................13
Topic 3: Nutrition Across the Lifespan...........................................................................................24
Topic 4: Nutrition in Disease Prevention and Management..........................................................36
Topic 5: Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Therapy........................................................................47
Topic 6: Cultural, Ethical, and Religious Considerations in Nutrition.............................................58
Topic 7: Micronutrients and Fluid-Electrolyte Balance..................................................................70
Topic 8: Nutrition Across the Lifespan...........................................................................................81
Topic 9: Clinical Nutrition in Chronic Disease Management..........................................................92
Topic 10: Special Diets, Cultural Considerations, and Patient Education....................................103
, 2
Topic 1: Nutritional Assessment and Screening in
Nursing Practice
Question 1:
A nurse is assessing the nutritional status of a newly
admitted elderly patient. Which parameter is most
reliable for assessing long-term nutritional status?
A. Body weight
B. Serum albumin
C. 24-hour food recall
D. Triceps skinfold thickness
Correct Answer: B. Serum albumin
Rationale: Serum albumin reflects long-term protein
status and is a good indicator of chronic malnutrition.
Although it can be affected by hydration status, it is more
stable over time compared to dietary recalls or
anthropometric measurements.
Question 2:
Which tool is best used for initial nutritional risk screening
in hospitalized patients?
, 3
A. Body Mass Index (BMI)
B. Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST)
C. Skinfold measurements
D. Serum transferrin
Correct Answer: B. Malnutrition Universal Screening
Tool (MUST)
Rationale: MUST is a validated tool used to quickly
identify adults who are malnourished or at risk of
malnutrition in various care settings.
Question 3:
A patient presents with a BMI of 17.5. This measurement
suggests:
A. Normal weight
B. Underweight
C. Overweight
D. Obese
Correct Answer: B. Underweight
Rationale: A BMI less than 18.5 indicates underweight
status, which can be a sign of nutritional deficiency.
Question 4:
, 4
Which laboratory value is most indicative of acute
changes in protein status?
A. Hemoglobin
B. Prealbumin
C. Serum albumin
D. Creatinine
Correct Answer: B. Prealbumin
Rationale: Prealbumin has a short half-life of 2–3 days,
making it a sensitive marker for acute changes in
nutritional status.
Question 5:
In assessing hydration status, which finding would most
strongly indicate dehydration?
A. Edema in lower limbs
B. Normal skin turgor
C. Elevated BUN-to-creatinine ratio
D. Weight gain
Correct Answer: C. Elevated BUN-to-creatinine ratio
Rationale: A high BUN-to-creatinine ratio often indicates
dehydration due to reduced plasma volume and renal
perfusion.
