Nutrition Screening and Care Flashcards

Which nutritional assessment parameter is MOST affected by acute inflammation or infection?

Answer: Serum albumin

Serum albumin levels drop during acute inflammation and infection as the liver shifts protein production to acute-phase reactants, making albumin less reliable as a nutritional marker during illness.

What is the recommended protein intake for a patient recovering from a Stage 3 pressure injury?

Answer: 1.25-1.5 g/kg/day

Patients with pressure injuries require increased protein (1.25-1.5 g/kg body weight per day) to support wound healing and tissue repair.

Which tool is specifically designed for nutrition screening in elderly populations?

Answer: Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA)

The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) was specifically developed and validated for use with elderly individuals (65+) to identify malnutrition risk.

What is refeeding syndrome and when is it a concern?

Answer: Dangerous electrolyte shifts when malnourished patients receive aggressive nutritional repletion

Refeeding syndrome involves potentially fatal shifts in electrolytes (especially phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium) when severely malnourished patients receive aggressive caloric repletion.

Which dietary modification is appropriate for a patient with dysphagia who has been prescribed a mechanically altered diet?

Answer: Regular food cut into bite-sized pieces with moist, soft-textured foods

A mechanically altered diet provides foods that are soft, moist, and cut to appropriate sizes for patients with mild to moderate dysphagia.

A resident in a long-term care facility refuses to eat. What should the dietary manager do FIRST?

Answer: Document the refusal and investigate the underlying cause

The first step is to document the food refusal and investigate potential causes, which may include medical issues, medication side effects, depression, or food preferences.