After abdominal surgery, a patient with protein calorie malnutrition is receiving parenteral nutrition (PN). Which is the best indicator that the patient is receiving adequate nutrition?

a. Serum albumin level is 3.5 mg/dL.
b. Fluid intake and output are balanced.
c. Surgical incision is healing normally.
d. Blood glucose is less than 110 mg/dL.


c. Surgical incision is healing normally.

Because poor wound healing is a possible complication of malnutrition for this patient, normal healing of the incision is an indicator of the effectiveness of the PN in providing adequate nutrition.

Nursing

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