Michigan Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) Practice Exam

How long is the food acceptance of a patient recorded after admission?

1. 7 days

2. 14 days

3. 21 days

4. 30 days

The correct answer is: 14 days

Recording a patient's food acceptance is an important practice in nursing homes as it helps staff monitor nutrition and ensure residents are receiving adequate nourishment. The requirement to record food acceptance for a period of 14 days after admission allows for an adequate assessment of a patient's dietary habits and adjusts to their preferences, any dietary restrictions, or changes in appetite that may occur shortly after admission. This 14-day period gives staff enough time to establish a baseline understanding of the resident's eating patterns, which can vary due to stresses associated with new environments, medications, or health conditions. Monitoring during this time can lead to timely interventions if a resident is not consuming enough food or if their dietary needs are not being met, which is essential for maintaining health and wellbeing in long-term care settings. After this initial period, staff can better determine the need for ongoing monitoring or adjustments to the resident's care plan based on established patterns.