N225 | N225 Final Exam: Nutrition – WCU | 200 Practice
Questions & Detailed Answers with Rationales | Latest 2026
Update | A+ Graded
1. A nurse is teaching a client about the energy content of macronutrients. Which of the following
should the nurse identify as providing the highest amount of energy per gram?
A) Fats
B) Proteins
C) Carbohydrates
D) Alcohol
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Fats provide 9 calories per gram, which is more than double the energy provided by
carbohydrates or proteins. Carbohydrates and proteins provide 4 calories per gram, while alcohol
provides 7 calories per gram. This high caloric density makes fats a very efficient storage form of energy
for the body.
2. Which of the following interventions should the nurse perform to help prevent aspiration for a client
receiving enteral tube feedings?
A) Position the client on their left side during feeding
B) Administer the feeding as a rapid bolus
C) Keep the head of the bed elevated at 30 to 45 degrees
D) Check gastric residual volumes every 12 hours
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed at 30 to 45 degrees uses gravity to keep the formula in the
stomach and significantly reduces the risk of gastric contents refluxing into the esophagus and airway.
Aspiration is a serious complication of enteral feeding that can lead to pneumonia or respiratory
distress. Nurses must maintain this elevation during the feeding and for at least 30 to 60 minutes
afterward.
3. A nurse is providing education to a pregnant client about preventing neural tube def ects. Which
supplement is most important to discuss?
A) Vitamin C
B) Folic acid
C) Calcium
D) Iron
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Folic acid supplementation is crucial during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects such as
spina bifida. It is recommended that women of childbearing age consume 400800 mcg of folic acid daily,
especially during the first trimester when the neural tube is forming.
4. A nurse is assessing a client with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 28. How should the nurse cate gorize this
finding?
A) Overweight
B) Normal weight
C) Underweight
D) Obese
,Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is medically classified as overweight. This metric is a screening
tool used to identify potential weight problems in adults. It does not directly measure body fat but
correlates with more direct measures. Nurses use this assessment to determine the need for further
nutritional counseling.
5. Which laboratory value is the best indicator of a client's current, acute nutritional status due to its
short halflife?
A) Serum Albumin
B) Transferrin
C) Hemoglobin
D) Prealbumin
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Prealbumin has a halflife of only two days, making it very sensitive to recent dietary changes.
In contrast, albumin has a halflife of about 20 days and reflects longterm status. Monitoring prealbumin
allows clinicians to see the immediate effects of nutritional interventions and is often used in acute care
settings to assess patients at risk for malnutrition.
6. According to the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDR), what percentage of total
daily calories should come from carbohydrates?
A) 45% to 65%
B) 10% to 35%
, C) 20% to 35%
D) 10% to 15%
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The AMDR for carbohydrates is 45% to 65% of total daily calories. This range is associated
with reduced risk of chronic diseases while providing adequate energy. The AMDR for protein is 10% to
35%, and for fat is 20% to 35%.
7. Which of the following is an essential nutrient that must be obtained through the diet because the
body cannot synthesize it in adequate amounts?
A) Glucose
B) Vitamin C
C) Cholesterol
D) Creatinine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Essential nutrients cannot be made by the human body and must be obtained from dietary
sources. These include certain vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids.
Vitamin C is essential because humans lack the enzyme gulonolactone oxidase required for its synthesis.
Glucose can be produced by the body through gluconeogenesis, cholesterol can be synthesized
endogenously, and creatinine is a waste product of muscle metabolism.
8. A patient asks the nurse about organic versus inorganic nutrients. Which response is most accurate?
Questions & Detailed Answers with Rationales | Latest 2026
Update | A+ Graded
1. A nurse is teaching a client about the energy content of macronutrients. Which of the following
should the nurse identify as providing the highest amount of energy per gram?
A) Fats
B) Proteins
C) Carbohydrates
D) Alcohol
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Fats provide 9 calories per gram, which is more than double the energy provided by
carbohydrates or proteins. Carbohydrates and proteins provide 4 calories per gram, while alcohol
provides 7 calories per gram. This high caloric density makes fats a very efficient storage form of energy
for the body.
2. Which of the following interventions should the nurse perform to help prevent aspiration for a client
receiving enteral tube feedings?
A) Position the client on their left side during feeding
B) Administer the feeding as a rapid bolus
C) Keep the head of the bed elevated at 30 to 45 degrees
D) Check gastric residual volumes every 12 hours
Correct Answer: C
,Rationale: Elevating the head of the bed at 30 to 45 degrees uses gravity to keep the formula in the
stomach and significantly reduces the risk of gastric contents refluxing into the esophagus and airway.
Aspiration is a serious complication of enteral feeding that can lead to pneumonia or respiratory
distress. Nurses must maintain this elevation during the feeding and for at least 30 to 60 minutes
afterward.
3. A nurse is providing education to a pregnant client about preventing neural tube def ects. Which
supplement is most important to discuss?
A) Vitamin C
B) Folic acid
C) Calcium
D) Iron
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Folic acid supplementation is crucial during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects such as
spina bifida. It is recommended that women of childbearing age consume 400800 mcg of folic acid daily,
especially during the first trimester when the neural tube is forming.
4. A nurse is assessing a client with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 28. How should the nurse cate gorize this
finding?
A) Overweight
B) Normal weight
C) Underweight
D) Obese
,Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is medically classified as overweight. This metric is a screening
tool used to identify potential weight problems in adults. It does not directly measure body fat but
correlates with more direct measures. Nurses use this assessment to determine the need for further
nutritional counseling.
5. Which laboratory value is the best indicator of a client's current, acute nutritional status due to its
short halflife?
A) Serum Albumin
B) Transferrin
C) Hemoglobin
D) Prealbumin
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Prealbumin has a halflife of only two days, making it very sensitive to recent dietary changes.
In contrast, albumin has a halflife of about 20 days and reflects longterm status. Monitoring prealbumin
allows clinicians to see the immediate effects of nutritional interventions and is often used in acute care
settings to assess patients at risk for malnutrition.
6. According to the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDR), what percentage of total
daily calories should come from carbohydrates?
A) 45% to 65%
B) 10% to 35%
, C) 20% to 35%
D) 10% to 15%
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The AMDR for carbohydrates is 45% to 65% of total daily calories. This range is associated
with reduced risk of chronic diseases while providing adequate energy. The AMDR for protein is 10% to
35%, and for fat is 20% to 35%.
7. Which of the following is an essential nutrient that must be obtained through the diet because the
body cannot synthesize it in adequate amounts?
A) Glucose
B) Vitamin C
C) Cholesterol
D) Creatinine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Essential nutrients cannot be made by the human body and must be obtained from dietary
sources. These include certain vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and essential amino acids.
Vitamin C is essential because humans lack the enzyme gulonolactone oxidase required for its synthesis.
Glucose can be produced by the body through gluconeogenesis, cholesterol can be synthesized
endogenously, and creatinine is a waste product of muscle metabolism.
8. A patient asks the nurse about organic versus inorganic nutrients. Which response is most accurate?
