NUR203: Ch. 18 (Eating Disorders) & 28 (Abuse)

Over the past year, a client has cooked gourmet meals for the family but eats only tiny servings. This person wears layered loose clothing and currently weighs 95 pounds, after a loss of 35 pounds. Which medical diagnosis is most likely?

•  Binge eating

•  Bulimia nervosa

•  Anorexia nervosa 

•  Eating disorder not otherwise specified

A client referred to the eating disorders clinic has lost 35 pounds during the past 3 months. To assess eating patterns, the nurse should ask the client which question?

•  “Do you often feel fat?”

•  “Who plans the family meals?”

•  “What do you eat in a typical day?” 

•  “What do you think about your present weight?”

Which nursing intervention has the highest priority as a client diagnosed with anorexia nervosa begins to gain weight?

•  Assess for depression and anxiety.

•  Observe for adverse effects of refeeding. 

•  Communicate empathy for the client’s feelings.

•  Help the client balance energy expenditures with caloric intake.

A client diagnosed with anorexia nervosa virtually stopped eating 5 months ago and lost 25% of body weight. A nurse asks, “Describe what you think about your present weight and how you look.” Which response by the client is most consistent with the diagnosis?

•  “I am fat and ugly.” 

•  “What I think about myself is my business.”

•  “I’m grossly underweight, but that’s what I want.”

•  “I’m a few pounds’ overweight, but I can live with it.”

Which nursing intervention has the highest priority for a client diagnosed with bulimia nervosa?

•  Assist the client to identify triggers to binge eating. 

•  Provide corrective consequences for weight loss.

•  Assess for signs of impulsive eating.

•  Explore needs for health teaching.

A nurse provides health teaching for a client diagnosed with bulimia nervosa. What is the priority information the nurse should provide?

•  self-monitoring of daily food and fluid intake.

•  establishing the desired daily weight gain.

•  how to recognize hypokalemia. 

•  self-esteem maintenance.

A client referred to the eating disorders clinic has lost 35 pounds in 3 months. For which physical manifestations of anorexia nervosa should a nurse assess? (Select all that apply.)

•  Peripheral edema 

•  Dental caries

• Constipation

•  Hypotension 

•  Lanugo 

An 11-year-old reluctantly tells the nurse, “My parents don’t like me. They said they wish I was never born.” Which type of abuse is likely?

•  Sexual

• Physical

•  Emotional 

•  Economic

What feelings are most commonly experienced by nurses working with abusive families?

•  Outrage toward the victim and discouragement regarding the abuser

•  Helplessness regarding the victim and anger toward the abuser 

•  Unconcern for the victim and dislike for the abuser

•  Vulnerability for self and empathy with the abuser

What is a nurse’s legal responsibility if child abuse or neglect is suspected?

•  Discuss the findings with the child’s parent and health care provider.

•  Document the observation and suspicion in the medical record.

•  Report the suspicion according to state regulations. 

•  Continue the assessment.