Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Registered Dietetic Technician Basic 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A DTR is screening a hospitalized patient using the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST). Which two parameters does the MST assess?
- Weight loss and appetite (Correct answer)
- BMI and serum albumin
- Functional status and food intake
- Age and diagnosis
Correct answer: Weight loss and appetite
The MST assesses recent unintentional weight loss and reduced appetite, making it a quick and validated bedside screening tool.
Question 2: Which vitamin is synthesized in the skin upon exposure to ultraviolet B radiation?
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D (Correct answer)
- Vitamin K
Correct answer: Vitamin D
Vitamin D is synthesized when 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin is converted to cholecalciferol upon UVB exposure.
Question 3: A patient on a 2,000 kcal diet needs 30% of calories from fat. How many grams of fat should they consume daily?
- 45 g
- 55 g
- 67 g (Correct answer)
- 75 g
Correct answer: 67 g
30% of 2,000 kcal = 600 kcal from fat; 600 ÷ 9 kcal/g = approximately 67 g fat.
Question 4: Which electrolyte imbalance is most commonly associated with prolonged vomiting?
- Hyperkalemia
- Hyponatremia
- Metabolic alkalosis with hypokalemia (Correct answer)
- Hyperchloremia
Correct answer: Metabolic alkalosis with hypokalemia
Prolonged vomiting causes loss of hydrochloric acid, leading to metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia from renal potassium wasting.
Question 5: What is the primary role of intrinsic factor in nutrition?
- It activates folate absorption in the jejunum
- It binds vitamin B12 and facilitates its absorption in the ileum (Correct answer)
- It emulsifies dietary fat in the duodenum
- It converts beta-carotene to retinol
Correct answer: It binds vitamin B12 and facilitates its absorption in the ileum
Intrinsic factor, produced by gastric parietal cells, binds vitamin B12 and enables its absorption at the terminal ileum.
Question 6: According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which food group should make up half of each meal plate?
- Grains
- Protein foods
- Fruits and vegetables (Correct answer)
- Dairy
Correct answer: Fruits and vegetables
MyPlate recommends that fruits and vegetables together fill half of the plate at each meal.
Question 7: A DTR is assessing a client's hydration status. Which clinical sign is most consistent with mild dehydration?
- Bradycardia
- Decreased skin turgor and dry mucous membranes (Correct answer)
- Peripheral edema
- Elevated blood pressure
Correct answer: Decreased skin turgor and dry mucous membranes
Mild dehydration presents with decreased skin turgor and dry mucous membranes as early signs of fluid deficit.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Registered Dietetic Technician Basic 2
A DTR is screening a hospitalized patient using the Malnutrition Screening Tool (MST).
Which two parameters does the MST assess?