Nutrition · practice question

A 79-year-old client on a medical-surgical unit is being evaluated for nursing care related to malnutrition screening. Assessment data include the client coughs when drinking thin liquids and has wet vocal quality after swallowing. Which finding requires the nurse to intervene immediately?

Multiple choiceHardnclex-rn-bsnnclex-validatednclex-2026nutrition

Routine data unchanged from the prior assessment.A comfort request with unchanged vital signs and no new symptoms.The new finding that coughs when drinking thin liquids and has wet vocal quality after swallowing.A stable, long-standing finding that matches the expected care plan.

Answer and explanation

Correct answer

C. The new finding that coughs when drinking thin liquids and has wet vocal quality after swallowing.

Why

Follow-up items test whether the nurse recognizes cues that are new, acute, or inconsistent with stability and need prompt nursing action.

Test yourself on Nutrition

A free test with instant, explained results. No account needed.

Start free test

All Nutrition questions →

A 79-year-old client on a medical-surgical unit is being evaluated for nursing care related to malnutrition screening. Assessment data include the client coughs when drinking thin liquids and has wet vocal quality after swallowing. Which finding requires the nurse to intervene immediately?

Correct answer

Why

More Nutrition questions