The nurse is caring for the critical care patient who is mildly stressed. Which caloric requirements are appropriate?

Rationale: A. 25 kcal/kg/day – Partially correct but represents the lower end of the range and may not meet needs for all mildly stressed patients. B. 30–35 kcal/kg/day – Incorrect for mild stress; this range is more appropriate for moderate to severe stress or hypermetabolic states. C. 40 kcal/kg/day – excessive for mild stress and may contribute to overfeeding complications. D. 25–30 kcal/kg/day – Caloric requirements for critically ill patients vary depending on the level of metabolic stress. Mildly stressed patients generally require 25–30 kcal/kg/day to maintain energy balance and support healing. This range accounts for the increased metabolic demands without overfeeding, which can lead to complications such as hyperglycemia or increased CO₂ production.