What accuracy criteria must be used when recording solids intake?

• A. Must be within 25% of solids consumed
• B. Must be within 50%
• C. Must be exact
• D. No recording needed

Answer: (A)

You assess solids intake by how close your record is to what the resident actually ate, and the standard is to be within 25 percent of the amount consumed. This recognizes that exact weighing at the bedside isn’t practical, so you estimate portions but with a consistent tolerance. The idea is to capture a reliable pattern over time rather than a precise measurement for every meal. For example, if the resident consumed about 40 grams of solids, you’d document roughly between 30 and 50 grams. This level of accuracy helps track nutrition trends and informs care decisions, without demanding impossible exactness. Recording exact amounts or not recording at all would distort the picture, and a 50% tolerance would reduce reliability.