Basic Patient Care Techniques Flashcards

When feeding a patient who is sitting up in bed, the head of the bed should be elevated to at least:

Answer: 45 degrees

Elevating the head of the bed to at least 45 degrees during feeding reduces the risk of aspiration by using gravity to keep food moving toward the stomach.

A patient has a fluid restriction order of 1,200 mL per 24 hours. At 6 AM the patient has already consumed 900 mL. The nursing assistant should:

Answer: Notify the nurse and offer only 300 mL more for the rest of the day

The nursing assistant must notify the nurse and distribute the remaining 300 mL throughout the rest of the 24-hour period per the care plan.

Which position is safest for a patient with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) during meals?

Answer: Upright at 90 degrees with chin slightly tucked

An upright 90-degree position with a chin tuck directs food away from the airway and toward the esophagus, reducing aspiration risk in dysphagic patients.

When recording intake and output, which item counts as fluid intake?

Answer: Gelatin (Jell-O)

Gelatin is liquid at room temperature and counts as fluid intake; foods that are solid at room temperature are not measured as fluids.

A nursing assistant is assisting a patient who begins to cough and choke during a meal. The first action should be:

Answer: Stop feeding and allow the patient to cough, staying with them

A cough is the body's natural airway clearance mechanism — allowing the patient to cough while staying with them is the first response before escalating if needed.

A nursing assistant notices that a patient has not eaten more than 25% of their meal. What is the correct action?

Answer: Document the percentage eaten and report to the nurse

Documenting poor oral intake and notifying the nurse ensures the care team can assess for underlying issues such as pain, nausea, or dysphagia.

Which patient should be given thickened liquids according to standard dysphagia precautions?

Answer: A patient with a physician/SLP order for thickened liquids

Thickened liquids are a medical intervention ordered by a physician or speech-language pathologist based on a formal swallowing evaluation — they should not be given without an order.