NMBI Nutrition and Fluid Balance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which body mass index (BMI) range is classified as 'normal weight' by the World Health Organization?
- 15.0–18.4
- 18.5–24.9 (Correct answer)
- 25.0–29.9
- 30.0–34.9
Correct answer: 18.5–24.9
A BMI of 18.5–24.9 kg/m² is the WHO-defined normal weight range; below this is underweight and above is overweight.
Question 2: A patient receiving nasogastric (NG) tube feeding develops diarrhoea, abdominal cramping, and vomiting. What is the MOST likely cause?
- Tube displacement
- Feeding rate too fast (Correct answer)
- Incorrect tube placement in the lung
- Constipation
Correct answer: Feeding rate too fast
Administering enteral feeds too rapidly is a common cause of gastrointestinal intolerance including diarrhoea and cramping.
Question 3: Before commencing a nasogastric tube feed, what is the GOLD STANDARD method for confirming correct tube placement?
- Auscultating air insufflation over the stomach
- Checking aspirate pH with a CE-marked pH strip (Correct answer)
- Asking the patient to speak
- Testing gastric residual volume
Correct answer: Checking aspirate pH with a CE-marked pH strip
NPSA guidance recommends testing aspirate pH using CE-marked pH indicator strips; pH ≤5.5 confirms gastric placement.
Question 4: Which condition describes excessive fluid accumulation in the interstitial spaces of tissues?
- Dehydration
- Ascites
- Oedema (Correct answer)
- Hypovolaemia
Correct answer: Oedema
Oedema is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space, presenting as swelling, most commonly in dependent areas.
Question 5: A patient who has been starved for an extended period begins re-feeding. What dangerous metabolic complication must nurses monitor for?
- Hypernatraemia
- Refeeding syndrome (Correct answer)
- Hypercalcaemia
- Metabolic alkalosis
Correct answer: Refeeding syndrome
Refeeding syndrome occurs when nutrition is reintroduced after prolonged starvation, causing dangerous electrolyte shifts particularly of phosphate, potassium, and magnesium.
Question 6: Which vitamin deficiency is directly associated with impaired wound healing and scurvy?
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin C (Correct answer)
- Vitamin D
Correct answer: Vitamin C
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for collagen synthesis; deficiency leads to impaired wound healing and, in severe cases, scurvy.
Question 7: A patient presents with muscle weakness, cardiac arrhythmias, and a serum potassium of 2.9 mmol/L. Which condition does this describe?
- Hyperkalaemia
- Hyponatraemia
- Hypokalaemia (Correct answer)
- Hypermagnesaemia
Correct answer: Hypokalaemia
Hypokalaemia is a serum potassium below 3.5 mmol/L and presents with muscle weakness, cramps, and potentially life-threatening arrhythmias.
NMBI Nutrition and Fluid Balance 2
Which body mass index (BMI) range is classified as 'normal weight' by the World Health Organization?