Substance Abuse, Eating Disorders, Impulse Control Disorders no. 5016

Substance Abuse, Eating Disorders, Impulse Control Disorders no. 5016

QUESTION: The nurse is assigned to care for a client with anorexia nervosa. Initially, which nursing intervention is most appropriate for this client?

✓O a.) Providing one-on-one supervision during meals and for 1 hour afterward
✘O b.) Letting the client eat with other clients to create a normal mealtime atmosphere
✘O c.) Trying to persuade the client to eat and thus restore nutritional balance
✘O d.) Giving the client as much time to eat as desired

RATIONALE

RATIONALE: Because the client with anorexia nervosa may discard food or induce vomiting in the bathroom, the nurse should provide one-on-one supervision during meals and for 1 hour afterward. Option 2 wouldn't be therapeutic because other clients may urge the client to eat and give attention for not eating. Option 3 would reinforce control issues, which are central to this client's underlying psychological problem. Instead of giving the client unlimited time to eat, as in option 4, the nurse should set limits and let the client know what is expected.
NURSING PROCESS STEP: Implementation
CLIENT NEEDS CATEGORY: Psychosocial integrity
CLIENT NEEDS SUBCATEGORY: None
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Knowledge