The nurse understands that malnutrition is a prevalent issue among hospitalized individuals. What is it commonly associated with?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Malnutrition is often associated with a weakened immune system. This is because when the body is not sufficiently nourished, it lacks the necessary nutrients to maintain a well-functioning immune system, making patients more vulnerable to infections and other health complications. This can potentially increase mortality rates and prolong hospital stays, contrary to choice C. Choices A and B are incorrect as malnutrition does not lead to decreased health care costs or high blood pressure. In fact, it may increase health care costs due to the potential for increased complications and extended hospital stays.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: This scenario illustrates depression or social isolation as a risk factor for malnutrition. After the death of his wife, the elderly man may have experienced depression or social isolation, which can lead to decreased food intake and poor nutritional status. Although age, chronic illness, and impaired mobility can also contribute to malnutrition, they are not the primary factors described in this scenario. The history of chronic illness (Choice A) and impaired mobility (Choice D) were not mentioned in the scenario, and while age (Choice C) is a factor, it's not the main factor depicted in this case.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Bile, which is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, aids in the digestion of fats. It does this by emulsifying the fats, which makes them easier for the digestive enzymes, such as lipase, to break down. While choices A, B, and C could be seen as partially correct since fats are a type of lipid and the process of breaking down fats could be seen as breaking down lipids, the most accurate answer is D, as the primary function of bile is to aid in fat digestion, not the digestion of all types of lipids or the digestion of proteins or carbohydrates.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Amino acids are the correct answer because they are the building blocks of proteins that the body absorbs after digestion. Pepsin, choice B, is incorrect as it is an enzyme that aids in the digestion of proteins, not the absorbable unit of them. Choices C and D, glucose and sucrose, are wrong because they are types of sugars, not proteins.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.