Medical & Nursing Studies 20 flashcards ~10 min

Nutrition and Dietetics for Nurses

About this deck

Nutrition is a foundational part of patient care that appears throughout nursing coursework and the NCLEX, and this deck of 20 flashcards covers the essentials nurses need to know. You'll review the three macronutrients and their caloric values, key vitamin deficiency diseases like scurvy and beriberi, and important minerals such as iron and calcium. The deck covers therapeutic diets nurses commonly manage — low-sodium, renal, and diabetic diets — along with enteral and parenteral nutrition, including how to check for correct nasogastric tube placement before feeding. It also addresses malnutrition markers like albumin levels, refeeding syndrome, and diet modifications for conditions like dysphagia and GERD. Suited to nursing students and NCLEX candidates, this deck focuses on the practical nutrition knowledge nurses apply daily when assessing patients, planning diets, and managing feeding-related complications.

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Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

4 calories per gram.

9 calories per gram.

Scurvy.

Beriberi.

Vitamin A deficiency.

Iron.

Vitamin K.

To help manage hypertension and fluid retention, often for heart failure or kidney disease patients.

Sodium, potassium, and phosphorus.

To control carbohydrate intake and maintain stable blood glucose levels.

Feeding delivered directly into the GI tract, such as through a nasogastric or gastrostomy tube.

Nutrition delivered intravenously, bypassing the digestive system.

Check gastric pH aspirate and/or confirm placement via X-ray.

Serum albumin.

A dangerous shift in electrolytes (especially phosphate) when nutrition is reintroduced too quickly after starvation.

Thickened liquids and pureed or soft foods to reduce aspiration risk.

Fatty, spicy, and acidic foods, caffeine, and alcohol.

Semi-Fowler's or upright position (at least 30–45 degrees) for 30–60 minutes.

A form of severe malnutrition caused by inadequate protein intake, despite adequate calorie intake.