Question 1

The nurse is preparing to assess the nutritional status of a patient who is 8 weeks pregnant. What is the most effective way for the nurse to assess the patient's food intake thus far in the pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

The best method for assessing a woman's nutritional intake during pregnancy is to ask the patient to list all the food eaten within the past 24 hours, starting with waking up until going to sleep. This method of history taking yields much more accurate information than asking a patient how often a specific food is eaten. Assessing skin status may provide more information about hydration that nutritional status. Assessing a total intake for a week would be too extreme for the patient to recall. Assessing the patient from a list of foods does not identify what the patient has most recently eaten.

Question 2

The nurse is instructing a pregnant patient to consume a diet high in complete proteins. Which food item should the nurse recommend as an example of a complete protein?

Accepted Answer

The protein in meat, poultry, fish, yogurt, eggs, and milk contain all nine essential amino acids required and are considered complete proteins. The protein in nonanimal sources does not contain all essential amino acids and are considered incomplete proteins. Green, leafy vegetables; whole grain toast; and apples or applesauce are carbohydrate sources.

Question 3

A pregnant patient asks if an over-the-counter vitamin can be taken during pregnancy instead of the prescribed prenatal vitamin. What should the nurse explain as the chief ingredient in prenatal vitamins that makes them important for pregnancy nutrition?

Accepted Answer

Folic acid is added to maternal prenatal vitamins because of the threat of developing anemia. The pregnant patient should take a prenatal vitamin that contains a folic acid supplement of 0.4 to 0.6 mg, which may or may not be a part of an over-the-counter vitamin supplement. Vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin B₁₂ are important; however, do not have the same risk of developing a health problem if not present in a prenatal vitamin supplement.

Question 4

The nurse is determining the effectiveness of nutritional teaching with a pregnant patient. Which food item that the patient selects indicates that additional teaching on good sources of iron is needed?

Accepted Answer

The foods richest in iron include organ meats; eggs; green, leafy vegetables; whole grains; enriched breads; or dried fruits. Milk is not a good source of iron and indicates that additional teaching is needed.

Question 5

A pregnant patient tells the nurse that drinking enough fluids has always been a problem for her. What should the nurse counsel the patient as being an adequate daily amount of fluid to drink while pregnant?

Accepted Answer

Extra amounts of water are needed during pregnancy to promote kidney function because a woman must excrete waste products for two. Eight glasses of fluid daily is a common recommendation. Two or four glasses of fluid would not be an adequate amount. Ten glasses of fluid might be too much for the patient to consume each day.

Question 6

A pregnant patient tells the nurse that saturated fats are avoided by using vegetable oil. What additional information about vegetable oil can the nurse use to reinforce this patient's decision?

Accepted Answer

Linoleic acid is a fat that is essential for new cell growth but cannot be manufactured by the body. Vegetable oils such as safflower, corn, olive, peanut, and cottonseed; fatty fish; omega-3-infused eggs; and omega-3-infused spreads are all good sources of linoleic acid. Vegetable oil does not aid in fluid balance, stimulate kidney function, or have high potassium content.

Question 7

During a previous prenatal visit, the nurse focused on the importance of adequate nutritional intake with a pregnant patient. Which assessment findings indicate that this teaching has been effective? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Evidence of an adequate nutritional intake while pregnant includes shiny hair, smooth tongue, and normal muscle reflexes. Pale conjunctiva could indicate iron deficiency. Chipped fingernails could indicate inadequate protein intake.

Question 8

The nurse is planning care for several pregnant patients. Which patient is at the greatest risk for nutritional deficiency while pregnant?

Accepted Answer

A pregnant woman with high parity or a short interval between pregnancies such as having a 1-year-old son may enter pregnancy with depleted nutritional reserves that she has little to draw on during the first part of pregnancy. The other pregnant patients may have nutritional deficiencies that can be corrected with vitamin supplementation or adjustments in the diet.

Question 9

A woman who is 6 weeks pregnant is concerned because she is nauseated every morning. Which measure should the nurse suggest the patient use to help relieve nausea?

Accepted Answer

The traditional solution for preventing nausea is for the pregnant patient to keep dry crackers, such as saltines, by the bedside and eat a few before rising because increasing carbohydrate intake seems to relieve nausea better than any other nutrition remedy. The patient can then eat a light breakfast or delay breakfast until 10 or 11 AM, which is past the time nausea seems to persist. Aspirin is irritating to the stomach and should not be taken. Delaying toothbrushing does not affect nausea. A teaspoon of baking soda should not be suggested because this could adversely affect the patient's electrolyte status.

Question 10

A pregnant patient asks the nurse what can be done for constipation. What should the nurse recommend to the patient?

Accepted Answer

Eating fiber-rich foods is a natural way to prevent constipation because the bulk of the fiber left in the intestine aids evacuation. Eating fiber-rich foods this way is a better choice for preventing constipation than taking a fiber laxative because it allows a pregnant patient to receive nutrients from the food as well as prevent constipation. The pregnant patient should not use mineral oil to relieve constipation because it can prevent absorption of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, K, and E, vitamins necessary for both good fetal and maternal health. Eating more meat products can add to the constipation. The patient should not be advised to stop prescribed prenatal vitamins.

Question 11

A woman of normal weight learns that she is pregnant and asks the nurse how much weight she should gain until delivery. What should the nurse respond to this patient?

Accepted Answer

A weight gain of 25 to 35 lb encourages fetal growth yet does not lead to a maternal weight gain postpregnancy. A patient who is overweight might be encouraged to limit weight gain to 20 lb while pregnant. A weight gain over 30 lb might be recommended for the patient that is underweight. The amount of weight gain is important to ensure adequate growth and health of the developing fetus and mother.

Question 12

Which nutritional information should the nurse suggest to a pregnant patient who follows a vegetarian eating plan?

Accepted Answer

Vitamin B₁₂ is found almost exclusively in animal protein, so if animal protein is excluded from the diet, vitamin B₁₂ deficiency can occur unless this is supplemented. The patient should anticipate needing a vitamin B₁₂ supplement while pregnant. The patient is a vegetarian and will not add meat to the diet. The intake of fruit will not adversely affect the patient or the development fetus. The patient may or may not want to discontinue the vegetarian diet while pregnant.

Question 13

The nurse is planning nutritional instructions for a pregnant patient who is a Mexican immigrant. On which areas should the nurse focus when preparing teaching for this patient? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

In the Mexican culture, most vegetables are cooked for a long time so they lose most of their nutritional value. Diet is high in fiber and starch. Animal fat is frequently added during food preparation. The diet may be inadequate in calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. The nurse should instruct the patient to add fruits rich in vitamin C, increase dairy product intake, reduce cooking times of vegetables, and limit the amount of animal fat in the diet.

Question 14

A patient who is 4 months pregnant is experiencing pyrosis. Which suggestion should the nurse make to the patient to help with this health problem?

Accepted Answer

Pyrosis, or heartburn, occurs in pregnancy because the uterine pressure against the stomach causes regurgitation into the esophagus. Eating small meals and remaining upright limits the possibility of regurgitation. The patient should be instructed to avoid fatty and fried foods, coffee, carbonated beverages, tomato products, and citrus juices. Complex carbohydrates will not help with the problem. Milk of magnesia is not recommended to be taken for pyrosis.

Question 15

During a prenatal appointment, a patient who is 3 months pregnant states she ingests starch because of a craving. What should the nurse respond to this patient?

Accepted Answer

Pica is a symptom that often accompanies iron-deficiency anemia, and the primary care provider might need to assess the patient's serum iron level because correcting this underlying problem with an iron supplement may correct the pica. Stopping eating the nonfood substance may be difficult because the habit may be deeply ingrained.
Emphasizing the importance of other nutrients while pregnant will not correct the problem. The nurse does not need to make another appointment to discuss the hazards of ingesting nonfood substances. The teaching can be conducted during the current appointment.

Question 16

The nurse is planning a prenatal educational program for a community health center. What information should the nurse include that supports the 2020 National Health Goals for nutrition in pregnancy? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Information that the nurse should include that supports the 2020 National Health Goals for nutrition in pregnancy include taking prenatal vitamins as prescribed because these will contain iron and folic acid. The nurse should also teach the participants to have a daily intake of foods with folic acid and to maintain adequate nutrition before becoming pregnant so that those entering pregnancy will have adequate nutritional stores. There are no specific foods that a pregnant patient should avoid such as those high in fat and calories. All pregnant patients do not need to limit the intake of foods high in simple carbohydrates.

Question 17

The nurse has identified the diagnosis of imbalanced nutrition for a pregnant patient. Which assessment data did the nurse use to identify this diagnosis for the patient?

Accepted Answer

Not wanting to gain weight while pregnant could lead to imbalanced nutrition for both the mother and developing fetus. Eating salads and red meat will not lead to imbalanced nutrition. Avoiding potatoes and bread will not lead to imbalanced nutrition.

Question 18

The nurse provides instructions to a patient with hyperemesis gravidarum. Which outcome indicates that teaching has been effective?

Accepted Answer

The pregnant patient with hyperemesis gravidarum may be hospitalized and treated with intravenous fluids. If there is no vomiting after the first 24 hours of oral restriction, small amounts of clear fluid can be started, and the woman discharged home. If able to take clear fluid without vomiting, small quantities of dry toast, crackers, or cereal can be added every 2 or 3 hours, then the woman may be gradually advanced to a soft diet and then to a regular diet. If vomiting returns at any point, enteral or total parenteral nutrition may be prescribed to ensure she receives adequate nutrition. Vomiting episodes in the morning or tolerating clear liquids or soft foods between vomiting episodes indicates that teaching has not been effective.

Quiz 13: The Nursing Role in Promoting Nutritional Health During Pregnancy