VITAMINS AND MINERALS
AND NURSING PROCESS

3/29/2023

3/29/2023

3/29/2023

MINERALS
MINERALS FUNCTION FOOD SOURCES DEFICIENCY
CONDITION
SIDE/ADVERSE
EFFECTS
OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS
Iron
Fe SO4
Fe fumarate
Hgb regeneration Liver, lean meats, egg yolk,
green vegetable spinach
IDA S/Sx: Fatigue,
pallor, weakness
Iron Toxicity 10 tab
(3g) fatal in
children –
hemorrhage –
ulcerogenic effect
of unbound iron
Food & antacid slow
absorption
Vit C ↑ absorption
1st Trimester avoid
teratogenic use in 2nd
& 3rd Trimester
Physiologic anemia
↑OFI, activity –
constipating
stools turn black or
dark green,
liquid iron use straw
discolor teeth enamel

MINERALS
MINERALS FUNCTIONS FOOD SOURCES DEFICIENCY
CONDITION
SIDE/ADVERSE
EFFECTS
OTHER
CONSIDERATIONS
Zinc
oral
Plays a crucial
role in the
enzymatic
metabolic
reactions of both
proteins and
carbohydrates.
Tissue growth
and repair.
Beef, lamb, eggs leafy
& root vegetables
Large doses
150mg/d –
deficiency ↓ HDL
& a weakened
immune response
hypersensitivity Believed to alleviate
common cold

NURSING PROCESS: PATIENT CENTERED
COLLABORATIVE CARE
3/29/2023
 Vitamins
 Assessment
 Check the patient for vitamin deficiency before the start of
therapy and regularly thereafter.
 Explore such areas as inadequate nutrient intake, debilitating
disease, and gastrointestinal (GI) disorders.
 Obtain a 24- and 48-hour diet history analysis.
 When possible, obtain levels to assess serum blood levels.

NURSING PROCESS: PATIENT CENTERED
COLLABORATIVE CARE
3/29/2023
 Nursing Diagnoses
 Nutrition, Imbalanced related to inadequate intake of food sources
of vitamins
 Knowledge, Deficient related to food sources of vitamins
 Decision Making, Readiness for Enhanced related to food choices
and vitamin supplementation
 Planning
 The patient will eat a well-balanced diet.
 The patient with vitamin deficiency will take vitamin supplements
as prescribed.
 The patient will demonstrate knowledge of vitamins contained in
food sources.

NURSING PROCESS: PATIENT CENTERED
COLLABORATIVE CARE
3/29/2023
 Nursing Interventions
 Administer vitamins with food to promote absorption.
 Store vitamins in light-resistant containers.
 Use the supplied calibrated dropper for accurate dosing when administering vitamins
in drop
form. Solutions may be administered mixed with food or drink.
 Administer vitamins intramuscularly for patients who are unable to take vitamins by
the oral
route (e.g., those with GI malabsorption syndrome).
 Recognize the need for vitamin E supplements for infants receiving vitamin A to
avoid the risk of hemolytic anemia.
 Monitor serum blood levels of any suspected vitamin or mineral deficiency.

NURSING PROCESS: PATIENT CENTERED
COLLABORATIVE CARE
3/29/2023
 Advise patients to take the prescribed amount of vitamins.
 Counsel patients to read vitamin labels carefully and discuss with a health care
provider prior to taking any vitamin or supplement.
 Advise patients to consult with a health care provider or pharmacist regarding
interactions with prescription and over-the-counter medications.
 Discourage patients from taking a large dose of vitamins over a long period
unless prescribed for a specific purpose by a health care provider. To
discontinue long-term use of high-dose vitamin therapy, a gradual decrease in
vitamin intake is advised to avoid vitamin deficiency.

NURSING PROCESS: PATIENT CENTERED
COLLABORATIVE CARE
3/29/2023
 Inform patients that missing vitamins for 1 or 2 days is not a
cause for concern because deficiencies do not occur for some
time.
 Advise patients to check expiration dates on vitamin
containers before purchasing them.
 Potency of vitamins is reduced after the expiration date.

NURSING PROCESS: PATIENT CENTERED
COLLABORATIVE CARE
3/29/2023
 Counsel patients to avoid taking mineral oil with vitamin A on a regular
basis because it
interferes with absorption of the vitamin; mineral oil also interferes with
vitamin K absorption.
 If needed, take mineral oil at bedtime.
 Explain to patients that there is no scientific evidence that large doses of
vitamin C will cure a cold.
 Alert patients not to take large doses of vitamin C with aspirin or
sulfonamides because crystals may form in the kidneys and urine.
 Alert patients to avoid excessive intake of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol
can cause vitamin B–complex deficiencies.

NURSING PROCESS: PATIENT CENTERED
COLLABORATIVE CARE
3/29/2023
 Advise patients to eat a well-balanced diet. Vitamin supplements are
not necessary if the person is healthy and receives proper nutrition on
a regular basis.
 Educate patients about foods rich in vitamin A, including milk, butter,
eggs, and leafy green and yellow vegetables.
 Advise patients that nausea, vomiting, headache, loss of hair, and
cracked lips (symptoms of hypervitaminosis A) should be reported to
the health care provider. Early symptoms of hypervitaminosis D are
anorexia, nausea, and vomiting.

NURSING PROCESS: PATIENT CENTERED
COLLABORATIVE CARE
3/29/2023
 Cultural Considerations
 Food and food choices have strong cultural roots. Determine the patient’s preferred and
culturally meaningful foods, and incorporate them into the food and supplement plan.
 Use interpreters as appropriate.
 Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency is common among people of
Arabic and Chinese heritage.
 Evaluation
 Evaluate the patient’s understanding of the purpose of vitamins and their correct use.
 Evaluate the effectiveness of the patient’s diet for inclusion of appropriate amounts and types
of food. Have the patient periodically keep a diet chart for a full week to determine typical
nutrition.
 Determine whether the patient with malnutrition is receiving appropriate vitamin therapy.

END OF SLIDE
March 29, 2023
CENTRO ESCOLAR UNIVERSITY: FOR INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2019