Question

1. (Write at least 1-2 paragraphs) One of your patients tells you they have been talking to their friends and family, and has decided to become a vegetarian. From a nurses’ perspective formulate a short patient teaching you would give.

Answer 1

People from different regions, cultures and traditions have different food choices. Some follow a vegetarian diet while some are non vegetarian.
The nurse should provide following teachings:

The nurse should educate the patient about merits and demerits of vegetarian diet.
Nurse should educate the pateint that Vegetarian diet lacks meat, fish, chicken and egg in their diet which are rich sources of protein. The patient should include some vegetarian options such as soyabean, pulses and legumes which are rich sources of protein.
The nurse should also educate the patient that vegetarian diet lacks vitamin B12. The patient should eat ample amount of green leafy vegetables and fruits to make sure he takes sufficient amount of B12.