Nutrition Management Flashcards
7 cards from real RNC-NIC 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 Management flashcards as text
An infant with galactosemia is identified on newborn screening. Which immediate dietary change is required?
Answer: Eliminate all galactose by using a soy-based or elemental formula
Galactosemia requires complete elimination of galactose (found in lactose in breast milk and standard formulas); soy-based formulas are galactose-free and are the standard treatment.
A VLBW infant on full enteral feeds is noted to have low serum zinc levels. Which clinical finding is consistent with zinc deficiency?
Answer: Perioral and perianal dermatitis with poor wound healing
Zinc deficiency classically presents with acrodermatitis enteropathica-like findings including perioral, perianal, and acral dermatitis along with poor wound healing and growth failure.
What is the most appropriate caloric density to initiate when concentrating formula for a cardiac neonate with fluid restriction?
Answer: 24 kcal/oz
24 kcal/oz is the typical starting point for concentrated formula in fluid-restricted cardiac neonates, with further increases based on tolerance and growth.
A nurse is reviewing a preterm infant's growth chart. Which parameter best reflects chronic nutritional status over weeks rather than days?
Answer: Head circumference growth velocity
Head circumference growth velocity is a reliable indicator of chronic nutritional adequacy and brain growth over weeks, as it reflects sustained protein and energy status.
During kangaroo mother care, a 29-week infant begins rooting and showing feeding cues at the breast. What is the safest initial feeding approach?
Answer: Offer non-nutritive sucking at the breast only, then supplement by tube
Non-nutritive sucking at the breast promotes oral motor development and milk supply, with gavage supplementation ensuring adequate intake until the infant can coordinate suck-swallow-breathe.
Which electrolyte abnormality is most commonly associated with excessive use of loop diuretics (furosemide) in a NICU patient receiving enteral nutrition?
Answer: Hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis
Loop diuretics cause urinary loss of potassium, sodium, and chloride, commonly resulting in hypokalemia and hypochloremic metabolic alkalosis.
A mother of a 31-week infant asks why her expressed breast milk appears bluish-white. The nurse's best response is:
Answer: This is foremilk, which is higher in lactose and lower in fat, and is normal
Foremilk appears thin and bluish-white due to lower fat content and higher water and lactose content; it is normal and safe for the infant.