Question

A nurse is planning care for a client who is being admitted for the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan?

1) Emphasize the nutritional value of foods during meals.
2) Limit the client's exercise to no more than 30 min per day.
3) Observe the client for 60 min after meals.
4) Weigh the client every other day.

Answer 1

A nurse planning care for a client with anorexia nervosa should consider (2) limiting exercise to 30 minutes per day, (3) observing the client for 60 minutes after meals, and (4) weighing the client every other day. These measures can help in monitoring and aiding the client's path to recovery.

Step-by-step explanation:

When planning care for a client being admitted for the treatment of anorexia nervosa, a nurse should consider several important actions to support the client's recovery:

• Emphasizing the nutritional value of foods during meals could be counterproductive, as it may reinforce the client's anxiety about caloric intake.
• Limited exercise is beneficial; thereby, limiting the client's exercise to no more than 30 minutes per day is appropriate to prevent excessive calorie burning.
• Observing the client for 60 minutes after meals can help ensure they do not engage in behaviors to eliminate the food they have just eaten, such as self-induced vomiting, which is crucial in the recovery process.
• Weighing the client every other day can be essential to monitor their progress, but it should be handled sensitively to avoid exacerbating the client's focus on body weight.

As between 50 and 85 percent of persons with eating disorders recover with therapy, it is critical that each of these actions helps the client achieve control over their eating, regular eating patterns, and a normal weight.