The nurse is caring for a thin, older adult client who is diagnosed with cancer and is receiving aggressive chemotherapy. The client is experiencing severe side effects from the therapy and has lost 10 pounds in the past week
What should the nurse teach the client to do?
Select all that apply.
A) Purchase fast foods and prepared foods.
B) Eat cold foods rather than hot foods, because they are better tolerated.
C) Keep a food diary and record intake.
D) Eat large frequent meals high in calories.
E) Drink liquid supplements to increase intake of nutrients.
Answer: B, C, E
Nutrition is an essential part of caring for all client with cancer but takes on even greater importance in the frail elderly, who may already have nutritional challenges such as poor dentition, inefficient absorption of nutrients, and mediation side effects. The goal of nutritional teaching is to help the client increase caloric and nutrient intake through the use of liquid supplements, small frequent meals, and a food diary that will help the nurse evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the current plan. The client receiving chemotherapy may tolerate cold foods better than hot foods. Fast foods and prepared foods tend to be high in fat and sodium and are not the best choice because they do not contain adequate healthy nutrients. Instead, involving the family in preparing meals or in enrolling in Meals on Wheels may be better options for easy ways of obtaining meals.
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