HESI Nutrition Practice Exam with
Answers
The parents of a 6-year-old child with celiac disease tell the school nurse that their child
becomes dejected because she is not able to eat snack foods like the rest of her class and
friends. What snack can the nurse recommend that is safe for the child to eat - ✔✔tortilla chips
Products composed of corn, rice, and millet do not contain gluten and are permitted on a low-
gluten diet; tortilla chips are made from corn flour. Pretzels contain wheat flour, which is not
permitted on a low-gluten diet; products containing rye, oats, and barley are also restricted.
Oatmeal cookies contain oats, which are not permitted on a low-gluten diet. Peanut butter
crackers contain wheat flour, which is not permitted on a low-gluten diet.
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.
While awaiting surgery, a client with a long history of Crohn disease is receiving total parenteral
nutrition (TPN) on an outpatient basis. The nurse teaches the client that TPN helps to prepare
for surgery by which process? - ✔✔decreasing fecal bulk
By decreasing fecal bulk and bowel stimulation, TPN provides rest for the bowel while the client
awaits surgery. TPN does not prevent a bowel infection. TPN does not stimulate gastrointestinal
secretions. TPN promotes positive nitrogen balance.
The nurse is providing care to an infant who is diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). Which
parental statement indicates the need for further education related to the potential for poor
growth? - ✔✔My child will have a poor appetite, which will lead to poor growth.
Pediatric clients who are diagnosed with CF experience poor growth despite a healthy appetite
and diet; therefore, the parental statement indicates that the infant's poor appetite will lead to
poor growth indicates the need for further education. Pediatric clients diagnosed with CF
Answers
The parents of a 6-year-old child with celiac disease tell the school nurse that their child
becomes dejected because she is not able to eat snack foods like the rest of her class and
friends. What snack can the nurse recommend that is safe for the child to eat - ✔✔tortilla chips
Products composed of corn, rice, and millet do not contain gluten and are permitted on a low-
gluten diet; tortilla chips are made from corn flour. Pretzels contain wheat flour, which is not
permitted on a low-gluten diet; products containing rye, oats, and barley are also restricted.
Oatmeal cookies contain oats, which are not permitted on a low-gluten diet. Peanut butter
crackers contain wheat flour, which is not permitted on a low-gluten diet.
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.
While awaiting surgery, a client with a long history of Crohn disease is receiving total parenteral
nutrition (TPN) on an outpatient basis. The nurse teaches the client that TPN helps to prepare
for surgery by which process? - ✔✔decreasing fecal bulk
By decreasing fecal bulk and bowel stimulation, TPN provides rest for the bowel while the client
awaits surgery. TPN does not prevent a bowel infection. TPN does not stimulate gastrointestinal
secretions. TPN promotes positive nitrogen balance.
The nurse is providing care to an infant who is diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). Which
parental statement indicates the need for further education related to the potential for poor
growth? - ✔✔My child will have a poor appetite, which will lead to poor growth.
Pediatric clients who are diagnosed with CF experience poor growth despite a healthy appetite
and diet; therefore, the parental statement indicates that the infant's poor appetite will lead to
poor growth indicates the need for further education. Pediatric clients diagnosed with CF
