STNA Nutrition and Hydration 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A nurse aide is assisting a resident at mealtime. The resident has a thickened-liquid diet order. Which beverage is appropriate to serve?
- Regular orange juice
- Nectar-thick apple juice (Correct answer)
- Water from a cup
- Carbonated soda
Correct answer: Nectar-thick apple juice
A nectar-thick beverage matches the consistency ordered for residents who need thickened liquids to prevent aspiration.
Question 2: Which action by a nurse aide best promotes adequate fluid intake for a resident who is reluctant to drink?
- Force the resident to drink all fluids at once
- Offer small amounts of fluids frequently throughout the shift (Correct answer)
- Document that the resident refused and do nothing further
- Only offer fluids at scheduled mealtimes
Correct answer: Offer small amounts of fluids frequently throughout the shift
Offering small, frequent amounts of fluids encourages intake without overwhelming the resident and reduces dehydration risk.
Question 3: A resident on a low-sodium diet asks the nurse aide for a snack. Which snack is most appropriate?
- Canned soup
- Fresh fruit (Correct answer)
- Salted crackers
- Pickles
Correct answer: Fresh fruit
Fresh fruit is naturally low in sodium and is appropriate for a resident on a sodium-restricted diet.
Question 4: What is the purpose of an intake and output (I&O) record maintained by the nurse aide?
- To track the resident's weight changes
- To monitor fluid balance and detect dehydration or fluid overload (Correct answer)
- To document the resident's food preferences
- To record the number of meals served
Correct answer: To monitor fluid balance and detect dehydration or fluid overload
I&O records help the care team monitor fluid balance to identify signs of dehydration or fluid overload early.
Question 5: A resident who normally eats well suddenly refuses meals for two days. What is the nurse aide's priority action?
- Assume the resident just isn't hungry and document nothing
- Force the resident to eat at least half the meal
- Report the change in eating behavior to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Substitute dessert to encourage eating
Correct answer: Report the change in eating behavior to the nurse
A sudden change in appetite can indicate a medical or emotional problem and must be reported to the nurse for further assessment.
Question 6: When recording a resident's meal intake, the nurse aide notes the resident ate 50% of the meal. How should this be documented?
- Write 'ate poorly' in the chart
- Record 50% intake in the I&O or meal documentation form (Correct answer)
- Leave it blank since it was partial
- Write 'refused food'
Correct answer: Record 50% intake in the I&O or meal documentation form
Accurate percentage documentation (50%) gives the care team precise information about nutritional intake.
Question 7: Which sign indicates a resident may be dehydrated?
- Moist mucous membranes
- Frequent urination with clear urine
- Dry mouth and decreased skin turgor (Correct answer)
- Swollen ankles and puffy face
Correct answer: Dry mouth and decreased skin turgor
Dry mouth and decreased skin turgor (skin that stays tented when pinched) are classic signs of dehydration.
STNA Nutrition and Hydration 1
A nurse aide is assisting a resident at mealtime.
The resident has a thickened-liquid diet order.
Which beverage is appropriate to serve?