Question

A patient is being weaned from TPN and is expected to begin taking solid food today. The ongoing solution rate has been 100 mL/hr. The nurse anticipates that which prescription regarding the TPN solution will accompany the diet prescription?

A. Discontinue the TPN
B. Decrease the TPN rate to 50 mL/hr
C. Start 0.9% NS at 25 mL/hr
D. Continue the current infusion rate for TPN

Answer 1

When beginning to take solid foods, a patient on TPN typically has the TPN rate decreased gradually to avoid complications, suggesting that the prescription will likely be to decrease the rate of TPN infusion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question concerns a patient who has been on Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) and is transitioning to solid food. When a patient starts to take solid food, it is common to taper the TPN to prevent complications such as hypoglycemia that can occur if TPN is discontinued abruptly. Therefore, the nurse can anticipate that the prescription regarding the TPN solution, which has been running at 100 mL/hr, will likely include a directive to Decrease the TPN rate. This gradual tapering allows the patient's body to adjust to the change in nutrition source.