Question

The nurse performs a nutritional assessment on a patient with lung cancer who is in the postoperative

period after a lobectomy. Which of the following could be an early sign of malnutrition?
A. A retinal-binding protein level of 2.0 mg/dL
B. Dry, fl aky, discolored skin and brittle nails
C. A body mass index (BMI) of 20
D. An albumin level of 3.0 g/dL

Answer 1

Dry, flaky, discolored skin and brittle nails are early signs of malnutrition in a postoperative lung cancer patient, while other measures like a BMI of 20 and albumin levels are not immediate indicators.

Step-by-step explanation:

An early sign of malnutrition in a patient with lung cancer who is in the postoperative period after a lobectomy could be dry, flaky, discolored skin and brittle nails. While an albumin level of 3.0 g/dL and a retinal-binding protein level of 2.0 mg/dL might indicate nutritional issues, these are not necessarily early markers of malnutrition. A body mass index (BMI) of 20 falls within the normal weight range and thus would not be indicative of malnutrition. Therefore, option B (Dry, flaky, discolored skin, and brittle nails) is the correct sign that could indicate early malnutrition.