HESI Nutrition Exam Questions and Answers
with Detailed Rationales 2026 | Verified |
100% Accurate
• A pathology report states that a client's urinary calculus is composed of
uric acid. Which food item should the nurse instruct the client to avoid?
-✓✓liver
Uric acid stones are controlled by a low-purine diet. Foods high in
purine, such as organ meats and extracts, should be avoided. Milk
should be avoided with calcium, not uric acid, stones. Cheese or animal
protein should be avoided with cystine, not uric acid, stones. Vegetables
do not have to be avoided.
• The nurse is teaching a class about nutrition to a group of adolescents.
Taking into consideration the prevalence of overweight teenagers, what
is the best recommendation the nurse can make? -✓✓decrease fast food
Eating a variety of healthful foods instead of a fast-food diet that is high
in fat and carbohydrates helps decrease excess weight and increase
energy with which to engage in physical activities. Joining a gym is
expensive and unnecessary. Physical activity can be achieved in the
schoolyard or at home. A multivitamin will not promote weight loss.
Vitamins and minerals are best obtained in a balanced diet. Diet soft
drinks do not contribute to obesity.
• A client describes abdominal discomfort following ingestion of milk.
Which enzyme, as a result of a genetic deficiency, should the nurse
consider to be the cause of the client's discomfort? -✓✓lactase
Milk and milk products are not tolerated well because they contain
lactose, a sugar that is converted to galactose by lactase. Sucrase assists
in the digestion of sucrose, which is not a milk sugar. Maltase assists in
the digestion of maltose, which is not a milk sugar. Amylase assists in
the digestion of starch, which is not a milk sugar
,• A client presents to the emergency department with weakness and
dizziness. The blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg, pulse is 92 and weak,
and body weight reflects a 3-pound (1.4 kilogram) loss in two days. The
weather has been hot. Which condition should the nurse conclude is the
priority for this client? -✓✓deficient fluid volume
The low blood pressure indicates hypovolemia, the increased pulse is an
attempt to maintain adequate oxygenation of tissues, and the rapid
weight loss reflects loss of body fluid. Although impaired skin integrity
is a concern with dehydration, it is not the priority. The rapid weight loss
reflects a loss of fluid, not a loss of body tissue. Although the client may
need assistance with activities, an inadequate intake of fluid has caused
the client's dehydration, which is a serious medical problem that needs to
be treated immediately.
• The nurse is caring for a client 4 days after the client was admitted to
the hospital with burns on the trunk and arms. The nurse collaborates
with the dietician to develop a dietary plan for the following day. Which
plan will the nurse follow? -✓✓High caloric intake, liberal potassium
intake, and 3 g protein/kg/day
A high-calorie diet is needed for the increased metabolic rate associated
with burns; the administration of potassium prevents hypokalemia,
which can occur after the first 48 to 72 hours when potassium moves
from the extracellular compartment into the intracellular compartment;
protein promotes tissue repair. High caloric intake, restricted potassium
intake, and 1 g protein/kg/day do not meet the body's needs for tissue
repair; the protein and potassium are too limited. Moderate caloric
intake, liberal potassium intake, and 3 g protein/kg/day do not meet the
body's needs for tissue repair; the calories are too limited. Moderate
caloric intake, restricted potassium intake, and 1 g protein/kg/day do not
meet the body's needs for tissue repair; the calories, potassium, and
protein are too limited.
, • A primary healthcare provider prescribes a low-sodium, high-
potassium diet for a client with Cushing syndrome. Which explanation
should the nurse provide to the client about the need to follow this diet?
-✓✓Excessive aldosterone and cortisone cause retention of sodium and
loss of potassium."
Clients with Cushing syndrome must limit their intake of salt and
increase their intake of potassium. The kidneys are retaining sodium and
excreting potassium. An excessive secretion of adrenocortical hormones
in Cushing syndrome, not increased or high sodium intake, is the
problem. Although sodium retention causes fluid retention and weight
gain, the need for increased potassium also must be considered. Because
of steroid therapy, excess sodium may be retained, although potassium
may be excreted.
• he nurse understands that research demonstrates that malnutrition
occurs in as many as 50% of hospitalized clients. The nurse should
assess a postoperative client with anorexia for what sign of malnutrition?
-✓✓Delayed wound healing
Delayed wound healing often is caused by a lack of nutrients, such as
protein and vitamin C, in the diet. Dependent edema usually occurs with
severe protein deficiency and heart failure. Spoon-shaped nails usually
occur with iron deficiency anemia. Loose, decayed teeth usually indicate
prolonged malnutrition.
• The nurse finds that an adolescent has episodes of binge eating
followed by self-induced vomiting and strenuous exercise. Which
condition is the adolescent likely to have? -✓✓Bulimia
Bulimia is a disorder characterized by repeated episodes of binge eating
followed by inappropriate compensatory behavior, such as self-induced
vomiting and/or strenuous exercise. Anorexia is an eating disorder
characterized by low body weight. Orthorexia is a disorder in which the
individual avoids certain foods, believing them to be harmful. Binge
behavior is consumption of large amounts of foods in a brief time but
without the subsequent compensatory behavior.
with Detailed Rationales 2026 | Verified |
100% Accurate
• A pathology report states that a client's urinary calculus is composed of
uric acid. Which food item should the nurse instruct the client to avoid?
-✓✓liver
Uric acid stones are controlled by a low-purine diet. Foods high in
purine, such as organ meats and extracts, should be avoided. Milk
should be avoided with calcium, not uric acid, stones. Cheese or animal
protein should be avoided with cystine, not uric acid, stones. Vegetables
do not have to be avoided.
• The nurse is teaching a class about nutrition to a group of adolescents.
Taking into consideration the prevalence of overweight teenagers, what
is the best recommendation the nurse can make? -✓✓decrease fast food
Eating a variety of healthful foods instead of a fast-food diet that is high
in fat and carbohydrates helps decrease excess weight and increase
energy with which to engage in physical activities. Joining a gym is
expensive and unnecessary. Physical activity can be achieved in the
schoolyard or at home. A multivitamin will not promote weight loss.
Vitamins and minerals are best obtained in a balanced diet. Diet soft
drinks do not contribute to obesity.
• A client describes abdominal discomfort following ingestion of milk.
Which enzyme, as a result of a genetic deficiency, should the nurse
consider to be the cause of the client's discomfort? -✓✓lactase
Milk and milk products are not tolerated well because they contain
lactose, a sugar that is converted to galactose by lactase. Sucrase assists
in the digestion of sucrose, which is not a milk sugar. Maltase assists in
the digestion of maltose, which is not a milk sugar. Amylase assists in
the digestion of starch, which is not a milk sugar
,• A client presents to the emergency department with weakness and
dizziness. The blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg, pulse is 92 and weak,
and body weight reflects a 3-pound (1.4 kilogram) loss in two days. The
weather has been hot. Which condition should the nurse conclude is the
priority for this client? -✓✓deficient fluid volume
The low blood pressure indicates hypovolemia, the increased pulse is an
attempt to maintain adequate oxygenation of tissues, and the rapid
weight loss reflects loss of body fluid. Although impaired skin integrity
is a concern with dehydration, it is not the priority. The rapid weight loss
reflects a loss of fluid, not a loss of body tissue. Although the client may
need assistance with activities, an inadequate intake of fluid has caused
the client's dehydration, which is a serious medical problem that needs to
be treated immediately.
• The nurse is caring for a client 4 days after the client was admitted to
the hospital with burns on the trunk and arms. The nurse collaborates
with the dietician to develop a dietary plan for the following day. Which
plan will the nurse follow? -✓✓High caloric intake, liberal potassium
intake, and 3 g protein/kg/day
A high-calorie diet is needed for the increased metabolic rate associated
with burns; the administration of potassium prevents hypokalemia,
which can occur after the first 48 to 72 hours when potassium moves
from the extracellular compartment into the intracellular compartment;
protein promotes tissue repair. High caloric intake, restricted potassium
intake, and 1 g protein/kg/day do not meet the body's needs for tissue
repair; the protein and potassium are too limited. Moderate caloric
intake, liberal potassium intake, and 3 g protein/kg/day do not meet the
body's needs for tissue repair; the calories are too limited. Moderate
caloric intake, restricted potassium intake, and 1 g protein/kg/day do not
meet the body's needs for tissue repair; the calories, potassium, and
protein are too limited.
, • A primary healthcare provider prescribes a low-sodium, high-
potassium diet for a client with Cushing syndrome. Which explanation
should the nurse provide to the client about the need to follow this diet?
-✓✓Excessive aldosterone and cortisone cause retention of sodium and
loss of potassium."
Clients with Cushing syndrome must limit their intake of salt and
increase their intake of potassium. The kidneys are retaining sodium and
excreting potassium. An excessive secretion of adrenocortical hormones
in Cushing syndrome, not increased or high sodium intake, is the
problem. Although sodium retention causes fluid retention and weight
gain, the need for increased potassium also must be considered. Because
of steroid therapy, excess sodium may be retained, although potassium
may be excreted.
• he nurse understands that research demonstrates that malnutrition
occurs in as many as 50% of hospitalized clients. The nurse should
assess a postoperative client with anorexia for what sign of malnutrition?
-✓✓Delayed wound healing
Delayed wound healing often is caused by a lack of nutrients, such as
protein and vitamin C, in the diet. Dependent edema usually occurs with
severe protein deficiency and heart failure. Spoon-shaped nails usually
occur with iron deficiency anemia. Loose, decayed teeth usually indicate
prolonged malnutrition.
• The nurse finds that an adolescent has episodes of binge eating
followed by self-induced vomiting and strenuous exercise. Which
condition is the adolescent likely to have? -✓✓Bulimia
Bulimia is a disorder characterized by repeated episodes of binge eating
followed by inappropriate compensatory behavior, such as self-induced
vomiting and/or strenuous exercise. Anorexia is an eating disorder
characterized by low body weight. Orthorexia is a disorder in which the
individual avoids certain foods, believing them to be harmful. Binge
behavior is consumption of large amounts of foods in a brief time but
without the subsequent compensatory behavior.
