Final answer:
A nurse can assess a pregnant teen's nutritional intake through a 24-hour dietary recall, laboratory values, observation for malnutrition, and inquiry about cooking facilities. This comprehensive approach ensures proper nutrient intake critical for both mother and fetus during pregnancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
When working with a pregnant teen, a nurse can accurately assess the teen's nutritional intake by asking her to complete a 24-hour dietary recall. This method involves the patient recalling and recording everything she ate and drank in the last 24 hours, which gives a snapshot of her dietary habits. The nurse could supplement this with an assessment of laboratory values to check for specific nutrient deficiencies, observing for clinical signs of malnutrition, and inquiring about her cooking facilities to determine if she has the means to prepare nutritious meals. These methods combined will provide a comprehensive overview of the teen's nutritional status.
All of these steps are crucial for ensuring that both the pregnant teen and the fetus receive adequate nutrition. Proper intake of vitamins and minerals is essential, and it is particularly important during pregnancy for the health and development of the fetus. Vitamins A, B, C, and D are critical, and deficiencies can lead to a multitude of health issues such as vision problems, neurological issues, scurvy, and rickets, respectively.
Educating the patient about nutrient density, healthy eating, energy homeostasis, and the importance of food supplements if necessary, can also help in guiding her towards making more informed dietary choices that contribute to her and her baby's well-being.