KAPLAN NUTRITION IN NURSING EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
*- Basic Nutrients and Metabolism*
*- Therapeutic Diets and Dietary Management*
*- Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition*
*- Nutrition for Special Populations*
*- Dietary Management of Chronic Diseases*
*- Nutrition Assessment and Monitoring*
*- Ethics and Legal Compliance in Nutrition Care*
*- Health Promotion and Nutritional Education*
Introduction
This exam assesses nursing students' and professionals' comprehensive knowledge of nutrition principles essential for clinical practice. The
assessment evaluates critical skills including nutritional assessment, dietary planning, therapeutic diet implementation, enteral and parenteral
nutrition management, and dietary modifications for various medical conditions. The multiple-choice and scenario-based structure emphasizes
real-world application, requiring candidates to demonstrate decision-making abilities in clinical nutrition situations. Success on this exam
indicates readiness to provide safe, effective nutrition care across diverse patient populations while adhering to professional standards and
regulatory requirements.
Section One: Questions 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative following a colon resection. Which of the following findings indicates that the client is ready to
transition from NPO to oral intake?
A. Absence of abdominal pain
B. Bowel sounds present in all quadrants
C. Client reports feeling hungry
D. Wound drainage is minimal
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Presence of bowel sounds in all quadrants indicates return of gastrointestinal function and is the primary clinical indicator that a
postoperative client can transition from NPO to oral intake. Hunger alone or absence of pain does not confirm GI function has resumed.
,Question 2
A nurse is teaching a client who has hypoglycemia about appropriate actions. Which of the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Skip meals if feeling well
B. Consume 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates
C. Take additional insulin
D. Increase protein intake only
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: For hypoglycemia, the standard treatment is consuming 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates (such as glucose tablets, regular
soda, or fruit juice) to rapidly raise blood glucose levels. Skipping meals or taking additional insulin would worsen hypoglycemia.
Question 3
A client undergoing chemotherapy has developed stomatitis. Which food choice by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. Blended soups
B. Dry, coarse foods like crackers
C. Smooth yogurt
D. Pureed fruits
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Dry, coarse foods like crackers can increase irritation and risk of stomatitis complications. Clients with stomatitis should consume
soft, moist, non-irritating foods. Blended soups, smooth yogurt, and pureed fruits are appropriate choices.
Question 4
A nurse is teaching a client who is starting a vegetarian diet about nutritional requirements. Which information should the nurse include?
A. Vitamin C is not needed
B. Protein intake will be automatically sufficient
C. Daily recommended intake of omega-3 fatty acids is important
D. Iron absorption increases without meat
🟢 Correct answer: C
,🔴 RATIONALE: Vegetarian diets require attention to omega-3 fatty acid intake since plant sources provide ALA rather than the more readily used
EPA and DHA. Protein may not be automatically sufficient, iron absorption typically decreases without meat, and vitamin C remains essential.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client with cirrhosis and ascites. Which dietary instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Increase sodium to 4000 mg daily
B. Limit sodium intake to 2000 mg daily
C. Eliminate all protein
D. Increase fluid intake to 4 liters
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Clients with cirrhosis and ascites should limit sodium intake to approximately 2000 mg daily to reduce fluid retention. Increasing
sodium worsens ascites, protein elimination is not recommended (though may be modified in severe cases), and excessive fluids can worsen fluid
overload.
Question 6
A nurse is preparing to administer intermittent enteral feeding to a client with a neuromuscular disorder. Which nursing interventions are
appropriate? (Select all that apply)
A. Fill the feeding bag with 24 hours worth of formula
B. Discard irrigation equipment after 24 hours
C. Leave unused portions of formula at the bedside
D. Label the unused portion of the formula
E. Replace administration tubing and feeding bag every 48 hours
🟢 Correct answer: B, D, E
🔴 RATIONALE: Proper enteral feeding safety includes discarding equipment after 24 hours, labeling unused formula portions, and replacing
tubing/bag every 48 hours. Filling with 24 hours of formula and leaving formula at bedside increases contamination risk.
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a client with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which finding the nurse recognizes as a manifestation of hypoglycemia?
, A. Dry skin
B. Confusion and sweating
C. Polyuria
D. Slow pulse
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypoglycemia manifests with neurological symptoms (confusion, dizziness) and autonomic symptoms (sweating, tachycardia,
palpitations). Dry skin, polyuria, and slow pulse are not typical hypoglycemia manifestations.
Question 8
A nurse in the ED reviews lab results for an older adult who is confused, reports nausea, and abdominal cramping. The nurse should suspect dietary
deficiency of which mineral?
A. Calcium
B. Sodium
C. Potassium
D. Magnesium
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Sodium deficit manifestations include confusion, headache, abdominal cramping, and dizziness. These symptoms match the
client's presentation. Other mineral deficiencies present with different symptom patterns.
Question 9
A nurse is teaching about micronutrients to a client who has difficulty seeing at night. Which micronutrient should be included?
A. Vitamin C
B. Vitamin A
C. Vitamin E
D. Zinc
🟢 Correct answer: B
2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
*- Basic Nutrients and Metabolism*
*- Therapeutic Diets and Dietary Management*
*- Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition*
*- Nutrition for Special Populations*
*- Dietary Management of Chronic Diseases*
*- Nutrition Assessment and Monitoring*
*- Ethics and Legal Compliance in Nutrition Care*
*- Health Promotion and Nutritional Education*
Introduction
This exam assesses nursing students' and professionals' comprehensive knowledge of nutrition principles essential for clinical practice. The
assessment evaluates critical skills including nutritional assessment, dietary planning, therapeutic diet implementation, enteral and parenteral
nutrition management, and dietary modifications for various medical conditions. The multiple-choice and scenario-based structure emphasizes
real-world application, requiring candidates to demonstrate decision-making abilities in clinical nutrition situations. Success on this exam
indicates readiness to provide safe, effective nutrition care across diverse patient populations while adhering to professional standards and
regulatory requirements.
Section One: Questions 1–100
Question 1
A nurse is assessing a client who is postoperative following a colon resection. Which of the following findings indicates that the client is ready to
transition from NPO to oral intake?
A. Absence of abdominal pain
B. Bowel sounds present in all quadrants
C. Client reports feeling hungry
D. Wound drainage is minimal
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Presence of bowel sounds in all quadrants indicates return of gastrointestinal function and is the primary clinical indicator that a
postoperative client can transition from NPO to oral intake. Hunger alone or absence of pain does not confirm GI function has resumed.
,Question 2
A nurse is teaching a client who has hypoglycemia about appropriate actions. Which of the following should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Skip meals if feeling well
B. Consume 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates
C. Take additional insulin
D. Increase protein intake only
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: For hypoglycemia, the standard treatment is consuming 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates (such as glucose tablets, regular
soda, or fruit juice) to rapidly raise blood glucose levels. Skipping meals or taking additional insulin would worsen hypoglycemia.
Question 3
A client undergoing chemotherapy has developed stomatitis. Which food choice by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
A. Blended soups
B. Dry, coarse foods like crackers
C. Smooth yogurt
D. Pureed fruits
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Dry, coarse foods like crackers can increase irritation and risk of stomatitis complications. Clients with stomatitis should consume
soft, moist, non-irritating foods. Blended soups, smooth yogurt, and pureed fruits are appropriate choices.
Question 4
A nurse is teaching a client who is starting a vegetarian diet about nutritional requirements. Which information should the nurse include?
A. Vitamin C is not needed
B. Protein intake will be automatically sufficient
C. Daily recommended intake of omega-3 fatty acids is important
D. Iron absorption increases without meat
🟢 Correct answer: C
,🔴 RATIONALE: Vegetarian diets require attention to omega-3 fatty acid intake since plant sources provide ALA rather than the more readily used
EPA and DHA. Protein may not be automatically sufficient, iron absorption typically decreases without meat, and vitamin C remains essential.
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client with cirrhosis and ascites. Which dietary instruction should the nurse provide?
A. Increase sodium to 4000 mg daily
B. Limit sodium intake to 2000 mg daily
C. Eliminate all protein
D. Increase fluid intake to 4 liters
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Clients with cirrhosis and ascites should limit sodium intake to approximately 2000 mg daily to reduce fluid retention. Increasing
sodium worsens ascites, protein elimination is not recommended (though may be modified in severe cases), and excessive fluids can worsen fluid
overload.
Question 6
A nurse is preparing to administer intermittent enteral feeding to a client with a neuromuscular disorder. Which nursing interventions are
appropriate? (Select all that apply)
A. Fill the feeding bag with 24 hours worth of formula
B. Discard irrigation equipment after 24 hours
C. Leave unused portions of formula at the bedside
D. Label the unused portion of the formula
E. Replace administration tubing and feeding bag every 48 hours
🟢 Correct answer: B, D, E
🔴 RATIONALE: Proper enteral feeding safety includes discarding equipment after 24 hours, labeling unused formula portions, and replacing
tubing/bag every 48 hours. Filling with 24 hours of formula and leaving formula at bedside increases contamination risk.
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a client with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which finding the nurse recognizes as a manifestation of hypoglycemia?
, A. Dry skin
B. Confusion and sweating
C. Polyuria
D. Slow pulse
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Hypoglycemia manifests with neurological symptoms (confusion, dizziness) and autonomic symptoms (sweating, tachycardia,
palpitations). Dry skin, polyuria, and slow pulse are not typical hypoglycemia manifestations.
Question 8
A nurse in the ED reviews lab results for an older adult who is confused, reports nausea, and abdominal cramping. The nurse should suspect dietary
deficiency of which mineral?
A. Calcium
B. Sodium
C. Potassium
D. Magnesium
🟢 Correct answer: B
🔴 RATIONALE: Sodium deficit manifestations include confusion, headache, abdominal cramping, and dizziness. These symptoms match the
client's presentation. Other mineral deficiencies present with different symptom patterns.
Question 9
A nurse is teaching about micronutrients to a client who has difficulty seeing at night. Which micronutrient should be included?
A. Vitamin C
B. Vitamin A
C. Vitamin E
D. Zinc
🟢 Correct answer: B
