Question

The registered nurse prepares to conduct a nutritional assessment on Mrs. Varner, a 52- year-old Caucasian female who describes herself as "overweight most of my adult life." The client states that her health is good. She works part time as a receptionist and volunteers about 10 hours per week in her church. The nurse obtains Mrs. Varner's height as 64 inches and her weight as 165 pounds. What is the rationale for computing body mass index? What is Mrs. Varner's a. BMI? Body mass index is a way by which weight and height body fat b. are measured to calculate Calculate her ideal body weight. What is your assessment of her BMI and weight? C. Based on Mrs. Varner's BMI and weight, the nurse measures her waist circumference. Describe the proper procedure for this assessment. d. Mrs. Varner's waist circumference is 38 inches. What is your assessment? e. What laboratory values would the nurse review to evaluate Mrs. Varner's protein levels?

Answer 1

Nutritional assessment is made to find whether the client is in good health , good body weight and not malnourished . It also gives us a picture about the nutritional status of the patient.

a. The rationale for computing body mass index is to find whether the patient's weight is normal for the height or to find out the degree of obesity.

Weight :165 pounds( 1 pound = 0.45 kg)= 74.8 kg

Height: 64 inches (1 inch= 0.025 m)= 1.63 m

Body mass index: weight(kg)/(height)² (m)² = 74.8 / 1.63* 1.63= 74.8/ 2.656= 28.16 kg/(m)²

Mrs. Varner's body mass index = 28.16 kg/(m)²

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b.Ideal body weight for women= 45.5 kg + 2.3 kg x (height, in - 60) = 45.5 +2.3 *(64-60)= 45.5 +2.3 *4= 54.7 kg

If body mass index is between 25-29.9 then the client is overweight.

Mrs. Varner is overweight.

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c.Ideal waist circumference for a female should be less than 35 inches (non-pregnant)

For measuring waist circumference make Mrs.Varner stand and locate her hip bone. From the top of hip bone hold the tape measure ,then bring it all the way around her body at the level of her belly button. The tape should not be too tight or loose. Tell her to be normal without holding her breath which may decrease the waist measurement. Note down the measurement once when she exhales , to get correct measure.

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d.Her waist circumference is 38 inches which denotes she is not having a healthy waist circumference. She may be at risk for cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes .

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e.The laboratory values the nurse would review to evaluate Mrs. Varner's protein level is serum albumin.