A patient diagnosed with HIV-II and wasting syndrome is suffering from inadequate nutrition. What assessment finding by the nurse would best indicate that the goals have been met for this patient’s problem?
The patient has gained 2 lb (1 kg) in a month.
The patient consumes 90% of meals and snacks.
The patient chooses high-protein food.
The patient reports decreased oral discomfort.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Weight gain is the most objective and reliable indicator of improved nutritional status in patients with HIV-II and wasting syndrome. It directly reflects an increase in lean body mass, which is essential for restoring physical strength, immune function, and overall health.
A weight gain of 2 lb (1 kg) in a month is considered a clinically significant improvement for this patient population. It demonstrates that the patient is consuming more calories than they are expending, leading to a positive energy balance and tissue growth.
Other assessment findings, such as food intake, food choices, and oral discomfort, can be subjective and influenced by various factors, such as appetite, taste changes, nausea, fatigue, and psychosocial issues. While they provide valuable information about the patient's nutritional status, they do not directly measure the actual improvement in body composition.
Choice B rationale:
Consuming 90% of meals and snacks is a positive sign that the patient is adhering to their dietary recommendations. However, it does not guarantee that they are consuming enough calories to promote weight gain. The patient's individual energy needs and the nutritional content of the meals and snacks must be considered.
Choice C rationale:
Choosing high-protein foods is important for building and repairing tissues, but it does not ensure adequate overall caloric intake. The patient may still be experiencing a calorie deficit if they are not consuming enough total calories, even if they are focusing on protein-rich foods.
Choice D rationale:
Decreased oral discomfort can facilitate better food intake, but it does not directly reflect weight gain or improved nutritional status. The patient may still have challenges with appetite, nausea, or other factors that hinder their ability to consume enough calories.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Step 1: Divide the prescribed dose (40 mg) by the concentration on hand (30 mg/mL).
Step 2: Perform the calculation: 40 mg ÷ 30 mg/mL = 1.3333 mL.
Step 3: Round the answer to the nearest tenth: 1.3333 mL rounds to 1.3 mL.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Contact inhibition is a normal mechanism that regulates cell growth. When normal cells come into contact with each other, they stop growing. This prevents uncontrolled growth and the formation of tumors.
Benign tumor cells do not typically lose contact inhibition. They still respond to contact signals from neighboring cells and stop growing when they come into contact with each other.
However, they may grow in an uncontrolled manner due to other factors, such as mutations in genes that regulate cell growth.
Choice C rationale:
Invasion is a characteristic of malignant (cancerous) tumors, not benign tumors. Malignant tumors have the ability to invade surrounding tissues and spread to other parts of the body.
Benign tumors, on the other hand, are localized and do not invade surrounding tissues. They may grow and compress nearby tissues, but they do not spread.
Choice D rationale:
Anaplasia is a term used to describe the loss of differentiation of cells in a tumor. This means that the cells no longer resemble the normal cells from which they originated.
Anaplasia is a characteristic of malignant tumors, not benign tumors. Benign tumor cells typically retain some of the characteristics of the parent cells.
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