An African American male is discussing his dietary intake with ...

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An African American male is discussing his dietary intake with the nurse. The nurse encourages the client to keep sodium intake below 1,500 mg per day.
 
  The client reports he does not have any known risk for the development of hypertension and feels this is too restrictive. How should the nurse respond? 1. African Americans typically have higher sodium levels than their Caucasian counterparts..
   2. This is the amount of sodium intake recommended for everyone..
   3. This is what will be best for you..
   4. Do you eat a great deal of salt?

Question 2

The client's lab studies reveal a normal serum albumin with a prealbumin of 10. How does the nurse interpret the significance of these readings?
 
  1. The client has had recent protein malnutrition.
   2. The client is now relatively well nourished with malnutrition 6 to 8 months ago.
   3. The client is at risk for development of malabsorption syndromes.
   4. Carbohydrate malnutrition has occurred over the last 6 months.

[triiciiaa]

Answer to Question 1

1. African Americans typically have higher sodium levels than their Caucasian counterparts..

Rationale:
After generations of conditioning, African Americans frequently have higher sodium levels. The recommended sodium intake for African Americans is slightly lower than are the levels for their Caucasian peers. Simply telling the client the recommendation is best does not provide an adequate level of information. The amount of salt ingested by the client should be recorded, but this is not the best response.

Answer to Question 2

1. The client has had recent protein malnutrition.

Rationale:
Prealbumin is the most responsive serum protein to rapid changes in nutritional status. A level below 11 indicates that aggressive nutritional intervention is necessary. Serum albumin is the slowest of the serum proteins to reflect changes, so abnormalities indicate prolonged protein malnutrition. There is no specific link to malabsorption syndromes. These tests are indicators of protein malnutrition, not carbohydrate malnutrition.