Michigan Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) Practice Exam

Under what condition may food acceptance records be recorded beyond 14 days after changing a patient's diet?

1. On the request of the family

2. Due to a physician's order

3. If the patient insists on it

4. For administrative review only

The correct answer is: Due to a physician's order

Recording food acceptance records beyond 14 days after changing a patient's diet is permitted due to a physician's order. This reflects the systematic approach necessary in healthcare, where healthcare providers, particularly physicians, play a critical role in determining and overseeing a patient's dietary needs. Physicians may have specific reasons based on a patient's medical condition, treatment plan, or recovery needs that justify the continuation of monitoring food acceptance for a longer period. Such orders are generally grounded in clinical assessment and aim to ensure that the patient's nutritional needs are being met and adjusted as necessary. In contrast, recording based on a family request, a patient's insistence, or for administrative review lacks the same clinical justification. Family requests may stem from emotional aspects or personal preferences, which, while important, may not align with medical protocols. Similarly, if a patient insists on certain records, it does not substitute the established criteria based on medical recommendations. Administrative reviews serve a different purpose in quality assurance rather than addressing immediate clinical necessities. Thus, only a physician’s order holds the clinical authority that warrants extending food acceptance record-keeping beyond the usual timeframe.