The nurse is evaluating a patient with bulimia nervosa. The most appropriate action is to:
- A. Assign a strict dietary plan to prevent weight gain.
- B. Monitor the patient for physical symptoms of starvation.
- C. Encourage the patient to avoid purging after meals.
- D. Provide emotional support without focusing on food-related behaviors.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Encourage the patient to avoid purging after meals. This is the most appropriate action because it addresses the harmful purging behavior associated with bulimia nervosa. By encouraging the patient to avoid purging, the nurse can help prevent serious health consequences such as electrolyte imbalances and damage to the esophagus.
Option A is incorrect because assigning a strict dietary plan may exacerbate the patient's unhealthy relationship with food and contribute to feelings of guilt and shame. Option B is incorrect as monitoring for physical symptoms of starvation may not directly address the underlying issue of purging behavior. Option D is also incorrect as providing emotional support alone may not effectively address the harmful purging behavior.
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A patient, who has had three successive spontaneous abortions, reached the twelfth week of pregnancy on the fourth attempt, when she passed a moderate amount of blood with clots per vaginam and complained of intermittent lower abdominal pain. On vaginal examination, the cervical canal admitted one finger readily and bimanual palpation revealed a uterus compatible in size with a pregnancy of only eight weeks duration. The menstrual cycle had been regular (5/28) before this pregnancy and the duration of pregnancy calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period was definitely known. Which one of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
- A. Threatened abortion.
- B. Cervical incompetence.
- C. Incomplete abortion.
- D. Ectopic pregnancy.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Bleeding, pain, open cervix, and uterine size smaller than expected (8 weeks vs. 12 weeks) suggest incomplete abortion (C), where some products of conception remain. Threatened abortion (A) has a closed cervix, cervical incompetence (B) lacks bleeding, ectopic (D) has different signs, and missed abortion (E) has no expulsion.
A 72-year-old widow has just returned home after 2 weeks in the hospital after a fall. She lives alone and is visited weekly by her son. She takes digoxin, hydrochlorothiazide, and an antihypertensive drug. She also has a prescription for diazepam (Valium) as needed for moderate to severe anxiety. When the visiting nurse stopped by 2 days after discharge, he found the woman confused and disoriented, with an unsteady gait. The patient asks him who he is and why he is there. The nurse correctly deduces that the most likely cause for the changes seen in the patient is:
- A. Delirium.
- B. Dementia.
- C. Drug toxicity.
- D. None of the above.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Delirium. The patient's sudden onset of confusion, disorientation, and unsteady gait after discharge from the hospital suggests delirium. Delirium is an acute change in mental status with fluctuating symptoms, often caused by underlying medical conditions, medications (such as diazepam), or environmental factors. In this case, the recent hospitalization, multiple medications, and potential stressors like living alone and recent fall increase the risk for delirium.
Incorrect choices:
B: Dementia is a chronic, progressive condition characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline. The sudden onset of symptoms in this case is not consistent with dementia.
C: Drug toxicity could be a possibility given the patient's medication list, but delirium is a more likely explanation due to the acute onset of symptoms post-hospitalization.
D: None of the above is incorrect because delirium is the most likely cause based on the patient's presentation and risk factors.
A patient admitted to the eating disorders unit has yellow skin, the extremities are cold, and the heart rate is 42 bpm. The patient weighs 70 pounds; height is 5 feet 4 inches. The patient is quiet during the assessment saying only, "I will not eat until I lose enough weight to look thin." Select the best initial nursing diagnosis.
- A. Anxiety related to fear of weight gain
- B. Disturbed body image related to weight loss
- C. Ineffective coping related to lack of conflict resolution skills
- D. Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements related to self-starvation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct initial nursing diagnosis is D: Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements related to self-starvation. The patient's symptoms indicate severe malnutrition from self-starvation, leading to the yellow skin, cold extremities, low heart rate, and underweight status. The patient's statement reflects their distorted perception of body image and the extreme measures taken to achieve thinness. Choice A (Anxiety related to fear of weight gain) is not the best initial diagnosis as it focuses on anxiety rather than the critical issue of malnutrition. Choice B (Disturbed body image related to weight loss) is not the best initial diagnosis as it does not address the immediate risk of severe malnutrition. Choice C (Ineffective coping related to lack of conflict resolution skills) is not the best initial diagnosis as it does not prioritize the life-threatening malnutrition present in this case.
A nursing diagnosis for a patient with bulimia nervosa is Ineffective coping related to feelings of loneliness and isolation, as evidenced by use of overeating and self-induced vomiting to comfort self. Select the best outcome related to this diagnosis. Within 2 weeks, the patient will:
- A. Appropriately express angry feelings.
- B. Verbalize two positive things about self.
- C. Verbalize the importance of eating a balanced diet.
- D. None of the above.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Rationale:
1. Patient's diagnosis indicates coping issues, not anger expression or self-esteem.
2. Patient's coping mechanism involves overeating and vomiting, not diet.
3. Outcome should focus on coping skills improvement, not unrelated goals.
4. None of the choices address the root issue of coping with loneliness and isolation.
5. Thus, the correct answer is D, as none of the options directly address the patient's ineffective coping mechanism.
In Anorexia Nervosa (AN), which of the following is a characteristic clinical feature?
- A. Intense fear of gaining weight
- B. Intense desire to binge eat
- C. Intense desire to vomit
- D. Intense desire to keep themselves busy
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Per DSM-5, an intense fear of gaining weight is a hallmark of Anorexia Nervosa, distinguishing it from other eating disorders.