Question

A female teen with celiac disease continues to eat food she knows will make her ill several hours after ingestion. While planning care, the nurse considers maturational and tertiary-level interventions. Which intervention will the nurse add to the care plan?

a.
Teach the teen about the food pyramid.
b.
Administer antidiarrheal medications with meals.
c.
Gently admonish the teen and her parents regarding the consistently poor diet choices.
d.
Assist the teen in meeting dietary restrictions while eating foods similar to those eaten by her friends.

Answer 1

Assisting the teen with celiac disease to adhere to a gluten-free diet while still enjoying meals similar to her friends is the ideal nursing intervention, combining dietary compliance with social inclusion.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best intervention that the nurse can add to the care plan for a female teen with celiac disease is to assist the teen in meeting dietary restrictions while choosing foods that are similar to those eaten by her friends. This approach not only ensures compliance with the necessary gluten-free diet but also aids in the teen's psychological and social wellbeing, as it allows for a sense of normalcy and inclusion in social settings. This intervention focuses on providing support and guidance to the teen in making healthy food choices that are suitable for her condition and also allow her to feel included among her peers. It is vital for the health of individuals with celiac disease to avoid gluten, as the ingestion can lead to damage of the microvilli in the small intestine, causing malnutrition, digestive distress, and a range of other serious health issues.