Question

Mrs. Tan is a 94-year-old patient who frequently refuses meals. She is currently being treated for a broken leg and pneumonia. On her bedside table are multiple packages of half-opened cookies and crackers. When the nurse asks her about them, she replies, "That's just what I like to eat." What primary nursing diagnosis might the nurse choose?

A. Knowledge deficit
B. Impaired skin integrity
C. Nutritional imbalance
D. Risk for infection

Answer 1

The primary nursing diagnosis that the nurse might choose for Mrs. Tan is Nutritional imbalance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The primary nursing diagnosis that the nurse might choose for Mrs. Tan is Nutritional imbalance. Mrs. Tan's frequent refusal of meals and the presence of multiple packages of half-opened cookies and crackers on her bedside table suggest a lack of proper nutrition. This is especially concerning as she is currently being treated for a broken leg and pneumonia, which require adequate nutrition for healing and recovery.