A client with alcohol abuse is diagnosed with nutritional deficits. What is the best nursing intervention?

A client with alcohol abuse is diagnosed with nutritional deficits. What is the best nursing intervention?

• A. Encourage the client to eat a diet high in calories
• B. Help the client recognize and follow a balanced diet
• C. Have the client drink liquid protein supplements daily
• D. Have the client monitor the calories consumed each day

Answer: (B)

Helping the client recognize and follow a balanced diet is the best nursing intervention for a client with alcohol abuse who has nutritional deficits. Alcohol can lead to malnutrition and a range of vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to poor dietary choices and absorption issues. A balanced diet helps ensure that the client receives essential nutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, which are crucial for physical health, cognitive function, and overall recovery. By focusing on a balanced diet, the nurse can support the client's long-term health and recovery goals, ensuring that the client not only increases their calorie intake but also consumes a variety of foods that provide the necessary nutrients to correct deficiencies and improve overall well-being. This approach also fosters a healthier relationship with food, promoting sustainable eating habits that can help in recovery from substance abuse. While some other options may provide short-term benefits, like increasing calorie intake or using liquid protein supplements, they do not address the broader and more vital need for a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrients that the body requires for healing and optimal functioning. Monitoring calories alone is also insufficient and does not ensure nutritional adequacy necessary for recovery.

Helping the client recognize and follow a balanced diet is the best nursing intervention for a client with alcohol abuse who has nutritional deficits. Alcohol can lead to malnutrition and a range of vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to poor dietary choices and absorption issues. A balanced diet helps ensure that the client receives essential nutrients, including carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals, which are crucial for physical health, cognitive function, and overall recovery.

By focusing on a balanced diet, the nurse can support the client's long-term health and recovery goals, ensuring that the client not only increases their calorie intake but also consumes a variety of foods that provide the necessary nutrients to correct deficiencies and improve overall well-being. This approach also fosters a healthier relationship with food, promoting sustainable eating habits that can help in recovery from substance abuse.

While some other options may provide short-term benefits, like increasing calorie intake or using liquid protein supplements, they do not address the broader and more vital need for a balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrients that the body requires for healing and optimal functioning. Monitoring calories alone is also insufficient and does not ensure nutritional adequacy necessary for recovery.