Final answer:
Creating a care plan for anorexia nervosa involves regular weigh-ins, supervision after meals, possibly structured mealtimes, and avoiding linking privileges to weight gain, focusing on recovery and overall health.
Step-by-step explanation:
When creating a plan of care for a client with anorexia nervosa, the nurse should consider interventions that address physical health, nutrition, and psychological support. Here are some interventions that could be included:
- Regular weighing is important, but it should be done in a sensitive and controlled manner to avoid any potential triggers. So option A, weigh the client once weekly at the same time of the day, is appropriate.
- Supervision after meals can help prevent purging behaviors, which is why option B, stay with the client for 30 min after meals, is recommended as part of the treatment.
- Providing some control to the client can be empowering and therapeutic; however, allowing a client with anorexia to schedule their own mealtimes might not be ideal since they could avoid setting meal times altogether. Therefore, option C might not be an effective intervention.
- Linking privileges directly to weight gain, as mentioned in option D, can create additional stress and further reinforce the negative behaviors associated with anorexia nervosa. Instead, focusing on healthy behaviors rather than just weight is essential.
Effective interventions often include a multi-disciplinary approach involving physicians, psychiatric and psychological support, dietitians, and family members to address the complex nature of eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, emphasizing recovery, normalizing eating habits, and addressing psychological issues.