Free CDR Registered Dietitian (RD) Exam Flashcards

The standardized four-step framework dietitians use: Assessment, Diagnosis, Intervention, and Monitoring/Evaluation (ADIME). It structures critical thinking and documentation so care is consistent and outcome-driven.

A nutrition diagnosis written as Problem related to Etiology as evidenced by Signs/symptoms. It links the diagnosis to its cause and the measurable data supporting it, guiding the intervention.

Both estimate resting/basal energy expenditure. Mifflin-St Jeor is now preferred for accuracy in healthy and overweight adults; Harris-Benedict is older and tends to overestimate needs.

Ratio of CO2 produced to O2 consumed. Pure carbohydrate oxidation gives RQ near 1.0, fat near 0.7, and mixed substrate around 0.85. An RQ above 1.0 suggests overfeeding and lipogenesis.

A bedside nutrition assessment tool rating patients as A (well-nourished), B (moderately/suspected malnourished), or C (severely malnourished) using history and physical exam rather than lab values alone.

Albumin has a long half-life (about 18-20 days) and falls mainly with inflammation, infection, and fluid shifts. It reflects illness severity more than nutritional status, so it is no longer a primary malnutrition criterion.

Marasmus is severe energy/calorie deficiency causing wasting of muscle and fat without edema. Kwashiorkor features edema and fatty liver, classically linked to protein deficiency amid relatively maintained calories.

Dangerous fluid and electrolyte shifts when feeding restarts in malnourished patients. Insulin drives phosphate, potassium, and magnesium into cells, causing hypophosphatemia, arrhythmias, and heart failure. Advance calories slowly and supplement thiamin.

One carbohydrate choice equals about 15 grams of carbohydrate. Patients match insulin to grams consumed; consistent carb intake stabilizes blood glucose better than focusing on sugar alone.

A general goal is below 7%, reflecting average glucose over roughly the prior 2-3 months. Targets are individualized; tighter or looser goals apply based on age, comorbidities, and hypoglycemia risk.

Glycemic index ranks how fast a carbohydrate raises blood glucose. Glycemic load multiplies that index by the actual grams of carbohydrate in a serving, giving a more practical measure of glucose impact.

Restrict protein (often around 0.6-0.8 g/kg), sodium, potassium, and phosphorus to slow progression and reduce uremia. Energy needs stay adequate to prevent catabolism of body protein.

Protein requirements increase (roughly 1.2 g/kg or more) because hemodialysis removes amino acids and increases catabolism. Fluid, potassium, and phosphorus are still restricted between treatments.

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, and limited sodium (often under 2,300 mg, ideally 1,500 mg). It lowers blood pressure and supports heart health.

Strict lifelong avoidance of gluten (wheat, barley, rye). Even small cross-contamination triggers intestinal damage. Monitor for iron, folate, calcium, and vitamin D deficiencies from prior malabsorption.

A staged elimination of fermentable oligo-, di-, monosaccharides and polyols used for irritable bowel syndrome. Trigger foods are removed, then systematically reintroduced to identify individual tolerances.

Common after gastric surgery. Eat small, frequent meals; separate fluids from solids; limit simple sugars; and increase soluble fiber and protein to slow gastric emptying and prevent rapid glucose swings.

Feeding through the functioning GI tract via a tube (NG, NJ, PEG, or jejunostomy). Preferred over parenteral when the gut works because it preserves gut integrity and lowers infection risk.

When the GI tract is nonfunctional, inaccessible, or must rest, such as bowel obstruction, short bowel syndrome, severe ileus, or intractable vomiting. Nutrients are delivered intravenously, bypassing digestion.

Central PN (TPN) uses a large central vein and tolerates high dextrose concentrations and osmolarity for long-term needs. Peripheral PN uses a smaller vein, limits concentration, and suits short-term, lower-need cases.

Nitrogen intake minus nitrogen losses. Positive balance means anabolism (growth, healing); negative balance means catabolism (stress, starvation). Estimate intake as protein grams divided by 6.25.

Glucose metabolism consumes thiamin. Giving carbohydrate first to a thiamin-deficient patient can precipitate Wernicke encephalopathy, an acute neurologic emergency. Thiamin must be replaced first.

Vitamins A, D, E, and K. They are stored in fat and the liver, require dietary fat and bile for absorption, and can reach toxic levels because the body does not readily excrete excess.

B12 absorption requires intrinsic factor from gastric parietal cells. Autoimmune loss of intrinsic factor causes pernicious anemia, presenting as macrocytic anemia plus neurologic symptoms like paresthesias.

Both cause megaloblastic anemia. Folate supplementation can correct the anemia but masks B12 deficiency while neurologic damage progresses. Always rule out B12 deficiency before giving folate alone.

Vitamin C and acidic environments enhance non-heme iron absorption. Phytates, tannins (tea/coffee), calcium, and high fiber inhibit it. Heme iron from animal sources is absorbed more efficiently than non-heme iron.

Vitamin D is required to absorb dietary calcium from the intestine. Without adequate vitamin D, calcium absorption drops sharply, increasing risk of rickets in children and osteomalacia or osteoporosis in adults.

About 70-99 mg/dL is normal. Impaired fasting glucose is 100-125 mg/dL (prediabetes), and 126 mg/dL or higher on repeat testing indicates diabetes.

Normal serum potassium is about 3.5-5.0 mEq/L. Both hyperkalemia and hypokalemia disrupt cardiac rhythm. Refeeding drives potassium intracellularly, while failing kidneys retain it, so diet and labs must be tracked.

EAR meets the needs of 50% of a population and is used to assess group adequacy. RDA, set about two standard deviations above EAR, meets the needs of 97-98% of individuals and guides individual intake goals.

The highest daily nutrient intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects in almost all people. Intake above the UL raises the risk of toxicity, which is most relevant for supplements and fortified foods.

Recommended percentage of total calories from each macronutrient: carbohydrate 45-65%, fat 20-35%, and protein 10-35%. Staying within these ranges supports adequate intake while reducing chronic disease risk.

40°F to 140°F (4°C to 60°C). Bacteria multiply rapidly in this range. The FDA Food Code limits total time in the danger zone to 4 hours of cumulative exposure.

165°F (74°C) for poultry, stuffing, and reheated leftovers, held for the required time. Ground meats reach 155-160°F, whole cuts of beef/pork 145°F with rest, and fish 145°F.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points, a preventive food safety system. It identifies biological, chemical, and physical hazards and sets critical control points (like cooking and cooling temps) with monitored limits.

Cool hot food from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours, then from 70°F to 41°F within an additional 4 hours, for a 6-hour total. This limits the time pathogens can grow during cooling.

First In, First Out: use older stock before newer stock by storing newest deliveries behind existing inventory. It reduces spoilage and waste and ensures food is used before expiration.

Conversion factor = desired yield divided by original yield. Multiply each ingredient amount by this factor. For example, scaling 25 servings to 100 uses a factor of 4.

AP is the weight bought including trim and waste; EP is the usable weight after preparation. Yield percentage = EP divided by AP. Purchasing uses AP, while recipes and portioning use EP.

Food cost divided by menu selling price, expressed as a percent. If a dish costs $3 to produce and sells for $12, the food cost percentage is 25%. Lower percentages mean higher gross margin.

Food is fully cooked, rapidly chilled, stored cold, then reheated near service. It separates production from service, improving labor scheduling and food safety when cooling and reheating rules are followed.

Conventional prepares and serves food in the same facility. A commissary centralizes production at one site and distributes to multiple satellite locations, gaining economies of scale but requiring transport controls.

Transfer of harmful microbes from one food, surface, or person to ready-to-eat food. Prevent it by separating raw and cooked foods, using color-coded boards, and proper handwashing and sanitizing.

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Framing patient goals this way (for example, walk 30 minutes 5 days a week for 4 weeks) improves accountability and behavior change.

A client-centered counseling style that strengthens a person's own motivation for change by exploring ambivalence. It uses open questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summaries rather than direct persuasion.

Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, and sometimes Relapse. Matching interventions to a client's stage makes counseling more effective than pushing action before readiness.

An ongoing, data-driven process to improve services and outcomes, often using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle. It emphasizes incremental, measurable change rather than one-time fixes.

A fixed cost (like rent or salaried staff) stays constant regardless of volume. A budget variance is the difference between projected and actual figures, signaling whether operations met financial plans.

Sets professional standards built on principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice, and integrity. RDs must practice within their competence, avoid conflicts of interest, and protect client confidentiality.

Scope of practice defines what services an RD is legally and professionally authorized to perform. Standards of practice describe the expected level of competent care and performance within that scope.