Nutrition and Fluid Balance Flashcards
7 cards from real NMC CBT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Nutrition and Fluid Balance flashcards as text
When re-checking nasogastric tube position during ongoing feeding, what is the recommended first-line method according to NPSA guidelines?
Answer: pH testing of gastric aspirate
NPSA guidelines recommend pH testing of aspirate as the first-line method for ongoing tube position checks, with pH ≤5.5 confirming gastric placement.
A patient is prescribed a 500 mL bag of 0.9% sodium chloride to infuse over 4 hours. Using a standard giving set (20 drops/mL), what is the correct drip rate in drops per minute?
Answer: 42 drops/min
Drip rate = (500 mL × 20 drops/mL) ÷ (4 hours × 60 minutes) = 10000 ÷ 240 = 41.67, rounding to 42 drops per minute.
Which body fluid compartment contains approximately two-thirds of the body's total water content?
Answer: Intracellular compartment
Approximately 67% (two-thirds) of total body water is located within cells in the intracellular compartment, with the remaining third in extracellular spaces.
A patient with chronic heart failure has been prescribed furosemide. Which electrolyte imbalance is the nurse MOST likely to monitor for as a side effect?
Answer: Hypokalaemia
Furosemide is a loop diuretic that promotes potassium excretion in the urine, commonly leading to hypokalaemia which requires regular monitoring and possible supplementation.
A patient is identified as at HIGH risk of malnutrition using the MUST tool. Which action is MOST appropriate as an immediate step?
Answer: Refer to the dietitian and implement a nutritional care plan
A MUST score of 2 or above (high risk) requires immediate referral to the dietitian and implementation of an individualised nutritional care plan per NICE guidelines.
Which sign would MOST alert the nurse to a patient developing refeeding syndrome after commencing nutritional support?
Answer: Falling serum phosphate levels
Refeeding syndrome is characterised by a rapid fall in serum phosphate (hypophosphataemia) as glucose metabolism drives phosphate into cells, causing potentially life-threatening complications.
A patient is nil by mouth post-operatively and receiving IV fluids only. After 24 hours, the fluid balance is recorded as +800 mL. What does this mean?
Answer: The patient has received 800 mL more fluid than lost
A positive fluid balance of +800 mL means the patient has received 800 mL more fluid in total than they have lost, indicating net fluid retention.