CDN Clinical Nutrition & Assessment 3

Question 1

A critically ill patient requires enteral nutrition but has high gastric residual volumes (GRVs). The MOST appropriate next step is to:

Accepted Answer

Advance the feeding tube to post-pyloric placement

Answer

Post-pyloric (jejunal) feeding bypasses the stomach and reduces aspiration risk when high GRVs indicate impaired gastric motility.

Question 2

Prealbumin (transthyretin) has a half-life of approximately 2–3 days, making it useful for monitoring:

Accepted Answer

Short-term response to nutrition intervention

Answer

The short half-life of prealbumin (~2–3 days) makes it a sensitive marker of acute changes in nutritional status and a useful tool for monitoring short-term nutrition therapy response.

Question 3

A patient with celiac disease must avoid gluten. Which of the following grains is inherently gluten-free and safe to consume?

Accepted Answer

Buckwheat

Answer

Buckwheat is botanically unrelated to wheat and is naturally gluten-free, unlike barley, rye, and triticale, which all contain gluten proteins.

Question 4

In nutrition support, which condition is a primary contraindication for enteral nutrition?

Accepted Answer

Complete mechanical bowel obstruction

Answer

Complete mechanical bowel obstruction prevents normal intestinal transit, making enteral feeding unsafe and parenteral nutrition the appropriate alternative.

Question 5

Refeeding syndrome is primarily caused by a rapid shift of which electrolyte into cells upon reintroduction of carbohydrates?

Accepted Answer

Phosphorus

Answer

Carbohydrate reintroduction stimulates insulin release, driving phosphate into cells for ATP synthesis, causing a dangerous drop in serum phosphate (hypophosphatemia) characteristic of refeeding syndrome.

(CDN) Certified Dietician Nutritionist Practice Test

(CDN) Certified Dietician Nutritionist Practice Test

CDN Clinical Nutrition & Assessment 3