A nurse is admitting a client who has experienced a weight loss of 11 kg (25 lb) in the past 3 months. The client weighs 40 kg (88 lbs) and believes she is fat. Which of the following aspects of care should the nurse consider the first priority for this client?
identify the client's nutritional status.
Provide a structured environment for the client.
Plan a therapeutic diet for the client
Request à mental health consult.
The Correct Answer is A
A. Identify the client's nutritional status.
Explanation:
Given the significant weight loss and the client's distorted belief about her body image (believing she is fat despite losing weight), it is crucial to assess the client's nutritional status first. Rapid weight loss and distorted body image are characteristic features of an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa. The nurse needs to determine the extent of malnutrition and potential medical complications related to inadequate nutrition. This assessment will guide the subsequent interventions.
Why the other choices are incorrect:
B. Provide a structured environment for the client.
While providing a structured environment can be important in managing eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, it is not the first priority. Understanding the client's nutritional status and medical condition takes precedence.
C. Plan a therapeutic diet for the client.
Planning a therapeutic diet may be part of the client's care plan, but without understanding the underlying nutritional status and potential eating disorder, creating a diet plan may not be effective or appropriate.
D. Request a mental health consult.
While a mental health consult is important for addressing the client's distorted body image and potential eating disorder, it should follow the assessment of nutritional status. The nutritional assessment provides critical information for both medical and psychological interventions.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Brief Patient Health Questionnaire (Brief PHQ):
The Brief PHQ is a screening tool used to assess symptoms of depression. While it may be relevant to assess mood and emotional well-being, it is not specific to evaluating cognitive functioning or cognitive disorders.
B. Abnormal Involuntary Movements Scale (AIMS):
The AIMS is used to assess involuntary movements, particularly in individuals taking antipsychotic medications. It is not directly related to assessing cognitive disorders.
C,. Mental status examination (MSE)
Explanation:
When admitting an older adult client with a suspected cognitive disorder, including a mental status examination (MSE) as part of the assessment is crucial. The MSE is a structured assessment of a client's current cognitive functioning, emotional state, and thought processes. It helps to evaluate memory, attention, language, perception, orientation, mood, and other cognitive and emotional domains.
D. Scale for Assessment of Negative Symptoms (SANS):
The SANS is used to assess negative symptoms in individuals with schizophrenia. It focuses on features such as affective blunting, alogia, anhedonia, and other negative symptoms. While it may provide important information about a client's mental state, it is not primarily used to assess cognitive disorders.
Assessing cognitive function is a key component when evaluating older adult clients for cognitive disorders such as dementia or other cognitive impairments. The MSE provides valuable information to guide diagnosis and treatment planning for these conditions.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A) "My child was born with a birth defect due to an exposure I had overseas."
This statement does not directly relate to the core symptoms of PTSD. While exposure to trauma can have a variety of consequences, including potential exposure-related health issues, this statement does not necessarily indicate the re-experiencing, avoidance, or hyperarousal symptoms characteristic of PTSD.
B) "I check any room I enter because the enemy is still after me and could be hiding anywhere."
This statement is more indicative of hyperarousal and hypervigilance, which are common symptoms of PTSD. However, it does not explicitly involve re-experiencing the traumatic event through nightmares or intrusive memories, as described in the correct answer.
C) "In my dreams, all I can see are the wounded reaching out and trying to grab me."
Explanation:
The statement "In my dreams, all I can see are the wounded reaching out and trying to grab me" indicates symptoms commonly associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This statement reflects the re-experiencing symptom cluster of PTSD, where individuals may have distressing and intrusive memories, nightmares, or flashbacks related to the traumatic event they experienced. The imagery of wounded individuals trying to grab the person suggests a strong emotional impact and ongoing distress related to the traumatic experience.
D) "I killed four enemy soldiers with my bare hands and saved my entire battalion."
While this statement might reflect exposure to a traumatic event and could contribute to symptoms of PTSD, it is presented in a way that seems more like a narrative of heroic actions rather than a symptom of distress or re-experiencing.

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