ATI PRACTICE NUTRITION: DETAILED ANSWER KEY GRADED A QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE 2026
A nurse is discussing health problems associated with nutrient deficiencies with a group of clients. Which of the following conditions is
associated with a deficiency of vitamin C? (Select all that apply.)
A. Dysrhythmias
B. Scurvy
C. Pernicious anemia
D. Megaloblastic anemia
E. Bleeding gums ✔️B. Scurvy (swollen, bleeding gums & opening of wounds)
E. Bleeding Gums
A nurse is conducting a nutritional class on minerals and electrolytes. The nurse should include which of the following foods as a major source
of magnesium?
A. Tuna
B. Tomatoes
C. Eggs
D. Oranges ✔️A. Tuna
Other Sources: green leafy vegetables, nuts, whole grains, halibut, chocolate
A nurse is reviewing information about dietary intake of iron with a client who has anemia. Which of the following is a non-heme source of
iron?
A. Ground beef
B. Dried beans
C. Salmon
D. Turkey ✔️B. Dried Beans
Other non-heme iron sources: legumes, vegetables, and grains
Heme sources: meat, fish, poultry
A nurse is reviewing dietary recommendations with a group of clients at a health fair. Which of the following information should the nurse
include?
A. "Fats should be 5% to 15% of daily calorie intake."
B. "Make protein 10% to 35% of total calories each day."
C. "Consume 1,500 mL of water from liquids and solids daily."
,D. "The body needs 40 mg of iron each day." ✔️B. "Make protein 10% to 35% of total calories each day."
Fats: 20% - 35% (saturated fats: less than 10%)
Carbs: 45% - 65%
Describe Two Types of Proteins ✔️1. Complete Proteins: from animal sources/soy; contain all 9 essential amino acids
2. Incomplete Proteins: from plant sources; insufficient # or quantity of amino acids which limits ability for protein synthesis
Complementary Proteins ✔️Food sources that are incomplete proteins eaten alone, but together are equivalent to a complete protein.
Three Main Factors Influencing the Body's Requirement for Protein ✔️1. Tissue growth needs
2. Quality of protein
3. Added needs due to illness
A nurse is discussing how the body uses nutrients for energy with a client during a primary care visit. Match each substance with the statement
that describes how the body stores or processes it for energy.
A. Glucose
B. ATP
C. Amino acids
D. Fatty acids
1. Converted to glycogen and stored in liver and muscle tissue.
2. Converted to triglycerides and stored in adipose tissue.
3. Used to synthesize proteins.
4. Used before glycogen and stored fat for growth and repair. ✔️A - 1
B-4
C-3
D-2
A charge nurse is conducting a nutritional class for a group of newly licensed nurses regarding basal metabolic rate (BMR). Sort each factor by
whether the nurse will discuss it as a factor that increases BMR or decreases BMR.
A. Lactation
B. Prolonged stress
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Puberty
E. Age older than 60 years ✔️Increases BMR: lactation, prolonged stress, and puberty
Decreases BMR: hypothyroidism, age older than 60
, A nurse is reviewing prescribed medications for newly admitted clients. Which do the nurse recognize as types of medications that decrease the
BMR? (Select all that apply.)
A. Epinephrine
B. Levothyroxine
C. Opioid
D. Barbiturate
E. Ephedrine sulfate ✔️C. Opioids
D. Barbiturate
*have CNS-depressant actions*
A nurse is caring for a client with negative nitrogen balance. Which of the following does the nurse recognize as possible causes of negative
nitrogen balance? (Select all that apply.)
A. Critical illness
B. Starvation
C. Adolescence
D. Trauma
E. Pregnancy ✔️A. Critical Illness
B. Starvation
D. Trauma
Describe Ingestion, Digestion, and Absorption ✔️Ingestion: taking food in by mouth
Digestion: breakdown of food into nutrients to be absorbed
Absorption: process by which nutrients pass through the walls of the digestive system so they can be used by the body
Explain the two processes that occur during Metabolism ✔️1. Catabolism: process by which food is broken down into small molecules to release
heat & chemical energy.
2. Anabolism: formation of new body substances (tissue, bone)
A nurse is caring for a client who is malnourished.
Describe manifestations the nurse should expect to find on physical examination. ✔️Poor Wound Healing
Dry Hair/Skin/Nails
Weakness
Impaired Coordination/Balance
A nurse is discussing health problems associated with nutrient deficiencies with a group of clients. Which of the following conditions is
associated with a deficiency of vitamin C? (Select all that apply.)
A. Dysrhythmias
B. Scurvy
C. Pernicious anemia
D. Megaloblastic anemia
E. Bleeding gums ✔️B. Scurvy (swollen, bleeding gums & opening of wounds)
E. Bleeding Gums
A nurse is conducting a nutritional class on minerals and electrolytes. The nurse should include which of the following foods as a major source
of magnesium?
A. Tuna
B. Tomatoes
C. Eggs
D. Oranges ✔️A. Tuna
Other Sources: green leafy vegetables, nuts, whole grains, halibut, chocolate
A nurse is reviewing information about dietary intake of iron with a client who has anemia. Which of the following is a non-heme source of
iron?
A. Ground beef
B. Dried beans
C. Salmon
D. Turkey ✔️B. Dried Beans
Other non-heme iron sources: legumes, vegetables, and grains
Heme sources: meat, fish, poultry
A nurse is reviewing dietary recommendations with a group of clients at a health fair. Which of the following information should the nurse
include?
A. "Fats should be 5% to 15% of daily calorie intake."
B. "Make protein 10% to 35% of total calories each day."
C. "Consume 1,500 mL of water from liquids and solids daily."
,D. "The body needs 40 mg of iron each day." ✔️B. "Make protein 10% to 35% of total calories each day."
Fats: 20% - 35% (saturated fats: less than 10%)
Carbs: 45% - 65%
Describe Two Types of Proteins ✔️1. Complete Proteins: from animal sources/soy; contain all 9 essential amino acids
2. Incomplete Proteins: from plant sources; insufficient # or quantity of amino acids which limits ability for protein synthesis
Complementary Proteins ✔️Food sources that are incomplete proteins eaten alone, but together are equivalent to a complete protein.
Three Main Factors Influencing the Body's Requirement for Protein ✔️1. Tissue growth needs
2. Quality of protein
3. Added needs due to illness
A nurse is discussing how the body uses nutrients for energy with a client during a primary care visit. Match each substance with the statement
that describes how the body stores or processes it for energy.
A. Glucose
B. ATP
C. Amino acids
D. Fatty acids
1. Converted to glycogen and stored in liver and muscle tissue.
2. Converted to triglycerides and stored in adipose tissue.
3. Used to synthesize proteins.
4. Used before glycogen and stored fat for growth and repair. ✔️A - 1
B-4
C-3
D-2
A charge nurse is conducting a nutritional class for a group of newly licensed nurses regarding basal metabolic rate (BMR). Sort each factor by
whether the nurse will discuss it as a factor that increases BMR or decreases BMR.
A. Lactation
B. Prolonged stress
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Puberty
E. Age older than 60 years ✔️Increases BMR: lactation, prolonged stress, and puberty
Decreases BMR: hypothyroidism, age older than 60
, A nurse is reviewing prescribed medications for newly admitted clients. Which do the nurse recognize as types of medications that decrease the
BMR? (Select all that apply.)
A. Epinephrine
B. Levothyroxine
C. Opioid
D. Barbiturate
E. Ephedrine sulfate ✔️C. Opioids
D. Barbiturate
*have CNS-depressant actions*
A nurse is caring for a client with negative nitrogen balance. Which of the following does the nurse recognize as possible causes of negative
nitrogen balance? (Select all that apply.)
A. Critical illness
B. Starvation
C. Adolescence
D. Trauma
E. Pregnancy ✔️A. Critical Illness
B. Starvation
D. Trauma
Describe Ingestion, Digestion, and Absorption ✔️Ingestion: taking food in by mouth
Digestion: breakdown of food into nutrients to be absorbed
Absorption: process by which nutrients pass through the walls of the digestive system so they can be used by the body
Explain the two processes that occur during Metabolism ✔️1. Catabolism: process by which food is broken down into small molecules to release
heat & chemical energy.
2. Anabolism: formation of new body substances (tissue, bone)
A nurse is caring for a client who is malnourished.
Describe manifestations the nurse should expect to find on physical examination. ✔️Poor Wound Healing
Dry Hair/Skin/Nails
Weakness
Impaired Coordination/Balance
