Substance Abuse, Eating Disorders, Impulse Control Disorders no. 5018

Substance Abuse, Eating Disorders, Impulse Control Disorders no. 5018

QUESTION: A client is admitted to the psychiatric clinic for treatment of anorexia nervosa. To promote the client's physical health, the nurse should plan to:

✘O a.) severely restrict the client's physical activities.
✘O b.) weigh the client daily, after the evening meal.
✓O c.) monitor vital signs, serum electrolyte levels, and acid-base balance.
✘O d.) instruct the client to keep an accurate record of food and fluid intake.

RATIONALE

RATIONALE: An anorexic client who requires hospitalization is in poor physical condition from starvation and may die as a result of arrhythmias, hypothermia, malnutrition, infection, or cardiac abnormalities secondary to electrolyte imbalances. Therefore, monitoring the client's vital signs, serum electrolyte level, and acid-base balance is crucial. Option 1 may worsen anxiety. Option 2 is incorrect because a weight obtained after breakfast is more accurate than one obtained after the evening meal. Option 4 would reward the client with attention for not eating and reinforce the control issues that are central to the underlying psychological problem; also, the client may record food and fluid intake inaccurately.
NURSING PROCESS STEP: Planning
CLIENT NEEDS CATEGORY: Physiological integrity
CLIENT NEEDS SUBCATEGORY: Reduction of risk potential
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Knowledge