Age Specific Care Quiz Related

Review Age Specific Care Quiz related questions and content

A nurse is caring for a patient with anorexia nervosa who is refusing to eat. What should the nurse do first?

  • A. Provide a structured meal plan and encourage the patient to eat.
  • B. Avoid discussing food intake to reduce anxiety.
  • C. Allow the patient to skip meals to avoid pressure.
  • D. Offer incentives for eating a full meal.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Provide a structured meal plan and encourage the patient to eat. This is the first step because patients with anorexia nervosa often struggle with disordered eating behaviors and need guidance and support to establish healthy eating habits. Providing a structured meal plan helps the patient understand the importance of regular and balanced meals. Encouraging the patient to eat helps address their resistance and fear around food.

Incorrect choices:
B: Avoid discussing food intake to reduce anxiety - This choice is incorrect because avoiding discussing food intake does not address the underlying issue and may perpetuate the patient's disordered eating behavior.
C: Allow the patient to skip meals to avoid pressure - Allowing the patient to skip meals enables their unhealthy behavior and does not promote recovery.
D: Offer incentives for eating a full meal - While incentives may be used as a motivational tool, they do not address the core issue of establishing a healthy relationship with food.