A diagnostic test has determined that the appropriate diet for the client with a left cerebrovascular accident (CVA) should include honey thickened liquids. Which of the following is the priority nursing diagnosis for this client?

1- Risk for Fluid Volume Deficit
2- Risk forElectrolyte Imbalance
3- Impaired Swallowing
4- Altered Nutrition:Less Than Body Requirements

When the swallowing mechanism functions abnormally then such a condition is termed as impaired swallowing.
Impaired swallowing provides complications as this leads to difficulty in consuming fluids and hence, can lead to dehydration.
Therefore, an important practice in health care is to use thickened liquids as water itself has a very low viscosity because of which it flows from the mouth into the oropharynx which would lead to aspiration.
Therefore, thickening fluids such as honey are mixed with fluids to slow down the movement of fluids and allow the respiratory pathway to close and thus the risk of aspiration reduces.