Free LPN Therapeutic Diets and Enteral Feedings Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A client with dysphagia is being advanced to a diet as tolerated. Which diet would be most appropriate to start with to minimize the risk of aspiration?
- Regular diet
- Mechanical soft diet
- Pureed diet (Correct answer)
- Full liquid diet
Correct answer: Pureed diet
A pureed diet consists of foods that are blended to a smooth, pudding-like consistency. This texture is easier to swallow for clients with dysphagia and reduces the risk of food particles entering the airway (aspiration). Mechanical soft, regular, and full liquid diets contain textures that can be more difficult to manage.
Question 2: An LPN is reinforcing dietary teaching for a client newly diagnosed with hypertension. Which dietary recommendation is most important to include?
- Increase intake of refined carbohydrates.
- Restrict sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg/day. (Correct answer)
- Follow a high-protein, low-fat diet.
- Eliminate all dairy products from the diet.
Correct answer: Restrict sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg/day.
Sodium intake is directly linked to fluid retention and increased blood pressure. A low-sodium diet is a cornerstone of non-pharmacological management for hypertension. While reducing fat and sugar is healthy, sodium restriction is the priority for managing this specific condition.
Question 3: Before administering a bolus enteral feeding via a nasogastric (NG) tube, what is the LPN's priority action?
- Flush the tube with 30 mL of water.
- Check for gastric residual volume. (Correct answer)
- Warm the formula in a microwave.
- Place the client in a supine position.
Correct answer: Check for gastric residual volume.
Checking for gastric residual volume is the priority action before administering a bolus feeding. This assesses gastric emptying and helps prevent over-distention and aspiration. If the residual volume is high (per facility policy), the feeding may need to be held and the provider notified.
Question 4: A client is receiving continuous enteral feeding. To prevent aspiration, the LPN should ensure the head of the bed is maintained at what minimum elevation?
- 10 degrees
- 15 degrees
- 20 degrees
- 30 degrees (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 30 degrees
Maintaining the head of the bed at an elevation of 30 to 45 degrees is a critical safety measure to prevent regurgitation and aspiration of gastric contents in a client receiving enteral feedings. This semi-Fowler's position uses gravity to help keep the formula in the stomach.
Question 5: A client is prescribed a clear liquid diet following abdominal surgery. Which of the following items is appropriate for the LPN to offer?
- Orange juice with pulp
- Vanilla milkshake
- Lemon gelatin (Correct answer)
- Cream of chicken soup
Correct answer: Lemon gelatin
A clear liquid diet includes liquids that are transparent and do not contain any solids or pulp. Gelatin is considered a clear liquid as it is liquid at body temperature. Orange juice with pulp, milk, and cream of chicken soup are not permitted on a clear liquid diet.
Question 6: What is the most reliable method for confirming the initial placement of a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube?
- Auscultating for air insufflation over the stomach
- Checking the pH of gastric aspirate
- Obtaining a chest X-ray (Correct answer)
- Placing the end of the tube in water to check for bubbles
Correct answer: Obtaining a chest X-ray
Radiographic (X-ray) confirmation is the gold standard and most reliable method to verify the initial placement of an NG tube. While auscultation and pH testing are used for subsequent checks, they are not as definitive as an X-ray for initial placement to rule out inadvertent respiratory tract placement.
Question 7: An LPN is caring for a client with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who is not on dialysis. The client's diet will most likely include a restriction of which nutrient?
- Vitamin C
- Protein (Correct answer)
- Complex carbohydrates
- Healthy fats
Correct answer: Protein
For clients with CKD who are not on dialysis, protein intake is often restricted. The kidneys are responsible for filtering the waste products of protein metabolism (like urea), and in CKD, this function is impaired. Restricting protein reduces the workload on the kidneys.
Free LPN Therapeutic Diets and Enteral Feedings Questions and Answers
A client with dysphagia is being advanced to a diet as tolerated.
Which diet would be most appropriate to start with to minimize the risk of aspiration?