Therapeutic Diets and Enteral Feedings Flashcards
7 cards from real LPN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Therapeutic Diets and Enteral Feedings flashcards as text
A patient on a mechanical soft diet has difficulty swallowing pills. Which action by the LPN is most appropriate?
Answer: Consult the pharmacist about liquid or crushable alternatives
The pharmacist should be consulted before altering medication forms, as some medications (enteric-coated, extended-release) cannot be safely crushed.
Which laboratory value is most important to monitor in a patient receiving long-term enteral nutrition via nasogastric tube?
Answer: Serum albumin and prealbumin
Serum albumin and prealbumin are key markers of nutritional status and are used to assess the effectiveness of enteral nutrition therapy.
A patient with chronic kidney disease is placed on a renal diet. Which food should the LPN instruct the patient to AVOID?
Answer: Bananas and oranges
Bananas and oranges are high in potassium, which must be restricted in chronic kidney disease to prevent hyperkalemia.
The LPN is caring for a patient receiving continuous tube feedings. The patient's residual volume is 280 mL. What is the correct action?
Answer: Stop the feeding and notify the nurse or provider
A gastric residual volume above 200–250 mL indicates delayed gastric emptying and should be reported to the provider before continuing feedings.
A patient with celiac disease asks the LPN which grain is safe to consume. Which response is correct?
Answer: Rice
Rice is gluten-free and safe for patients with celiac disease; wheat, barley, and rye all contain gluten.
Which action should the LPN take FIRST before initiating a bolus tube feeding?
Answer: Check tube placement and residual volume
Verifying tube placement and checking residual volume are the priority safety checks before administering any tube feeding.
A patient on a low-sodium diet receives a lunch tray. Which item indicates a dietary error that the LPN should address?
Answer: Canned vegetable soup
Canned soups are typically very high in sodium and are not appropriate for a low-sodium therapeutic diet.