Nutrition & Hydration Flashcards
7 cards from real PCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Nutrition & Hydration flashcards as text
Which signs during feeding should alert the PCA to possible aspiration?
Answer: Coughing, choking, or a wet/gurgly voice after swallowing
Coughing, choking, and a wet or gurgly voice after swallowing are classic warning signs that food or liquid has entered the airway.
The PCA should report unintended weight loss to the nurse when a client loses:
Answer: 5% or more of body weight within 30 days
Unintended weight loss of 5% or more of body weight within 30 days is clinically significant and requires reporting.
Which PCA action best helps prevent aspiration pneumonia in at-risk clients?
Answer: Ensuring proper positioning and following all texture and thickening orders
Following prescribed positioning, food textures, and liquid thickening orders significantly reduces the risk of aspiration and subsequent pneumonia.
Why is oral hygiene important for clients who have difficulty eating or swallowing?
Answer: A clean mouth reduces bacteria that can cause aspiration pneumonia
Oral bacteria can be aspirated into the lungs, making good oral hygiene a key preventive measure for aspiration pneumonia.
A PCA notices a client has not eaten or drunk anything for over 8 hours. The correct action is to:
Answer: Offer food and fluids, encourage intake, and report continued refusal to the nurse
Prolonged refusal of food and fluids is clinically significant and must be offered, encouraged, documented, and reported.
When documenting a client's food intake, the PCA should record:
Answer: The approximate percentage of each food item consumed, such as 'ate 75% of lunch'
Documenting the approximate percentage of each food item consumed provides the care team with useful data about nutritional intake.
A client insists they are not thirsty and refuses all fluids. The PCA's best response is to:
Answer: Offer fluid alternatives like gelatin or broth, document the refusal, and notify the nurse
Offering acceptable alternatives, documenting the refusal, and notifying the nurse ensures the client's safety and proper care coordination.