The nurse is caring for an 88-year-old patient who was admitted to the long-term care facility after a recent conviction of driving while intoxicated. On reviewing the laboratory work and ob-serving a folic acid level of 2 ng/ml, the nurse
a. increases the patient's caloric intake.
b. performs a dietary assessment on the pa-tient.
c. provides the patient with sodium-rich foods.
d. immediately notifies the patient's physi-cian.
D
This folic acid level is very low. Alcohol is known to interfere with the absorption of folate. The nurse should immediately notify the physician. Increasing calories will not in itself increase folate levels. A dietary assessment may be warranted but is not the best response. Sodium is not related.
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