Free Nutrition, Fluids and Electrolytes MCQs with Answers
50 Nutrition, Fluids and Electrolytes MCQs from Fundamentals of Nursing, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Coverage includes nutrients and balanced diets, therapeutic feeding, enteral and parenteral nutrition, intake and output, dehydration, fluid overload and fluid balance calculations. Questions also examine sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride disturbances, their signs and nursing care, while distinguishing enteral feeding through the gastrointestinal tract from parenteral nutrition.
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50 questions · page 1 of 3
- A. Carbohydrate provides 4 kilocalories per gram
- B. Protein provides 4 kilocalories per gram
- C. Fat provides 9 kilocalories per gram
- D. Vitamin provides 9 kilocalories per gram
Explanation: Fat provides 9 kilocalories per gram, while carbohydrate and protein provide 4 kilocalories per gram.
Correct answer: Fat provides 9 kilocalories per gram- A. Enteral feeding through a nasogastric tube
- B. Peripheral parenteral nutrition through a small vein
- C. Total parenteral nutrition through a central vein
- D. Intramuscular injection of nutritional supplements
Explanation: Enteral feeding uses the gastrointestinal tract and is preferred when it is functioning, even when oral swallowing is unsafe.
Correct answer: Enteral feeding through a nasogastric tube- A. Stop the infusion and flush the catheter with saline
- B. Continue the infusion with sterile water until the bag arrives
- C. Administer prescribed dextrose while arranging the replacement bag
- D. Increase the infusion rate after the replacement bag arrives
Explanation: TPN should not be stopped suddenly because the patient may develop rebound hypoglycaemia.
Correct answer: Administer prescribed dextrose while arranging the replacement bag- A. Offer a large meal containing extra protein
- B. Assess vital signs and begin prescribed fluid replacement
- C. Restrict oral fluids to prevent further diarrhoea
- D. Place the patient flat and delay further assessment
Explanation: Thirst, dry mucous membranes and postural dizziness suggest extracellular fluid loss and possible reduced circulating volume.
Correct answer: Assess vital signs and begin prescribed fluid replacement- A. Place the patient in high Fowler position and assess breathing
- B. Encourage oral fluids to improve renal circulation
- C. Continue the infusion and reassess after the next vital signs
- D. Place the patient flat and elevate both legs
Explanation: Breathlessness, crackles and falling oxygen saturation suggest pulmonary fluid accumulation.
Correct answer: Place the patient in high Fowler position and assess breathing- A. Protect the patient from injury and maintain airway safety
- B. Offer plain water to correct the sodium concentration
- C. Encourage walking to assess muscle strength
- D. Administer potassium rapidly through a peripheral vein
Explanation: Severe hyponatraemia can cause cerebral oedema, confusion and seizures.
Correct answer: Protect the patient from injury and maintain airway safety- A. Administer prescribed potassium by slow diluted infusion
- B. Give potassium chloride by rapid intravenous push
- C. Restrict all potassium-containing foods and fluids
- D. Place the patient on fluid restriction without monitoring
Explanation: Vomiting can cause potassium loss, and hypokalaemia may produce muscle weakness and dangerous dysrhythmias.
Correct answer: Administer prescribed potassium by slow diluted infusion- A. Place the patient on continuous cardiac monitoring
- B. Encourage the patient to eat potassium-rich fruit
- C. Administer prescribed potassium replacement immediately
- D. Give a salt substitute instead of the prescribed diet
Explanation: Severe hyperkalaemia with peaked T waves indicates an immediate risk of life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmia.
Correct answer: Place the patient on continuous cardiac monitoring- A. Metabolic alkalosis caused by gastric acid loss
- B. Metabolic acidosis caused by bicarbonate loss
- C. Respiratory acidosis caused by slow breathing
- D. Respiratory alkalosis caused by rapid breathing
Explanation: Gastric secretions contain hydrochloric acid, so prolonged vomiting can cause chloride loss with metabolic alkalosis.
Correct answer: Metabolic alkalosis caused by gastric acid loss- A. It provides only protein, vitamins and minerals
- B. It provides essential nutrients in suitable amounts
- C. It provides mainly carbohydrates for body energy
- D. It provides extra fat to prevent nutrient deficiency
Explanation: A balanced diet supplies carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water in appropriate proportions.
Correct answer: It provides essential nutrients in suitable amounts- A. F-75 therapeutic milk
- B. F-100 therapeutic milk
- C. High-protein adult formula
- D. Undiluted oral rehydration solution
Explanation: F-75 provides cautious nutrition during the stabilisation phase of severe acute malnutrition.
Correct answer: F-75 therapeutic milk- A. It prevents all catheter-related infections
- B. It allows administration of hypertonic solutions
- C. It eliminates the need to monitor blood glucose
- D. It allows the patient to eat less frequent meals
Explanation: TPN is highly concentrated and may irritate small peripheral veins, so a central vein is used for rapid dilution by the larger blood flow.
Correct answer: It allows administration of hypertonic solutions- A. A positive balance of 250 mL
- B. A positive balance of 1,000 mL
- C. A negative balance of 250 mL
- D. A negative balance of 1,000 mL
Explanation: Total intake is 500 + 450 + 50 = 1,000 mL. Total output is 600 + 150 = 750 mL, so the balance is 1,000 - 750 = positive 250 mL.
Correct answer: A positive balance of 250 mL- A. Bounding pulse with dependent oedema
- B. Crackles with distended neck veins
- C. Tachycardia with concentrated urine
- D. Rapid weight gain with moist crackles
Explanation: Tachycardia and concentrated urine commonly occur when circulating fluid volume is reduced.
Correct answer: Tachycardia with concentrated urine- A. Place the patient flat during feeding
- B. Keep the head of bed elevated during feeding
- C. Add extra water directly to the formula
- D. Flush the tube only after symptoms develop
Explanation: Keeping the head of the bed elevated during and after feeding reduces reflux and aspiration risk.
Correct answer: Keep the head of bed elevated during feeding- A. Correct the sodium level rapidly within one hour
- B. Correct the sodium level gradually with frequent monitoring
- C. Restrict all fluids until the sodium level normalises
- D. Give concentrated saline to remove excess sodium
Explanation: Chronic or severe hypernatremia is corrected gradually to reduce the risk of cerebral oedema.
Correct answer: Correct the sodium level gradually with frequent monitoring- A. Report the findings and prepare prescribed calcium replacement
- B. Encourage walking to improve calcium absorption
- C. Offer potassium-rich foods and repeat observations later
- D. Restrict oral fluids to prevent further electrolyte loss
Explanation: Perioral tingling and carpopedal spasm suggest acute hypocalcemia, which can progress to laryngospasm and seizures.
Correct answer: Report the findings and prepare prescribed calcium replacement- A. Diarrhoea with muscle twitching
- B. Constipation with weakness and lethargy
- C. Stridor with carpopedal spasm
- D. Positive Chvostek sign with tremors
Explanation: Hypercalcemia commonly causes constipation, muscle weakness, lethargy and reduced neuromuscular excitability.
Correct answer: Constipation with weakness and lethargy- A. Administer it by rapid intravenous push
- B. Infuse it diluted using a controlled pump
- C. Give it undiluted through a small peripheral vein
- D. Stop cardiac monitoring during the infusion
Explanation: Intravenous potassium must be diluted and infused at a controlled rate, with appropriate monitoring, because rapid administration can…
Correct answer: Infuse it diluted using a controlled pump- A. Building and repairing body tissues
- B. Providing roughage for bowel movement
- C. Maintaining vision in dim light
- D. Regulating body temperature directly
Explanation: Protein supplies amino acids needed for tissue growth, repair, enzymes and antibodies.
Correct answer: Building and repairing body tissuesNutrition, Fluids and Electrolytes MCQs: common questions
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