Which nursing diagnosis best reflects an assessment of a patient who is vomiting and has a decreased ability to ingest food?

Which nursing diagnosis best reflects an assessment of a patient who is vomiting and has a decreased ability to ingest food?

• A. Nausea related to unknown cause of stomach pain
• B. Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements related to decreased ability to ingest food as a result of vomiting
• C. Acute pain related to abdominal surgery
• D. Risk for dehydration

Answer: (B)

The key idea is using a PES nursing diagnosis: Problem with a related cause and the observable signs. When a patient is vomiting and cannot ingest enough food, the most appropriate problem is Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements, because the core issue is insufficient intake to meet metabolic needs. Vomiting directly reduces oral intake, so labeling the nutrition status as less than body requirements captures the actual impact on nourishment. Nausea as a diagnosis would describe a symptom or sensation rather than the resulting energy and nutrient deficit. Acute pain doesn’t fit here since abdominal pain isn’t described as the primary issue, and risk for dehydration is a concern but remains a risk diagnosis rather than a current state of inadequate intake. So the best match for the scenario is imbalanced nutrition less than body requirements related to decreased ability to ingest food as a result of vomiting, reflecting both the cause and the consequence of the patient’s condition.

The key idea is using a PES nursing diagnosis: Problem with a related cause and the observable signs. When a patient is vomiting and cannot ingest enough food, the most appropriate problem is Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements, because the core issue is insufficient intake to meet metabolic needs.

Vomiting directly reduces oral intake, so labeling the nutrition status as less than body requirements captures the actual impact on nourishment. Nausea as a diagnosis would describe a symptom or sensation rather than the resulting energy and nutrient deficit. Acute pain doesn’t fit here since abdominal pain isn’t described as the primary issue, and risk for dehydration is a concern but remains a risk diagnosis rather than a current state of inadequate intake. So the best match for the scenario is imbalanced nutrition less than body requirements related to decreased ability to ingest food as a result of vomiting, reflecting both the cause and the consequence of the patient’s condition.