A nurse is caring for a client who has anorexia nervosa and overexercises to avoid gaining weight. Which of the following nursing actions should the nurse take?
Praise the client for looking at herself in a mirror.
Ask the client to agree to talk to a nurse whenever she feels the urge to exercise.
Reprimand the client about the potential damage that has occurred due to overexercising her body
Restrict the client from being weighed.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Praise the client for looking at herself in a mirror.
While body image concerns are common in anorexia nervosa, praising the client for looking at herself in a mirror may inadvertently reinforce the focus on appearance and body image, which can be counterproductive.
B. Ask the client to agree to talk to a nurse whenever she feels the urge to exercise.
Explanation: For a client with anorexia nervosa, overexercising can be part of the unhealthy behaviors associated with the disorder. Collaborative communication is important in addressing and managing these behaviors. Asking the client to agree to talk to a nurse whenever the urge to exercise arises is a supportive approach. It allows the nurse to provide emotional support, explore the client's motivations and triggers for overexercising, and work together on finding healthier coping strategies.
C. Reprimand the client about the potential damage that has occurred due to overexercising her body.
Reprimanding the client may lead to feelings of guilt and shame, which are counterproductive in supporting recovery. A more empathetic and supportive approach is needed.
D. Restrict the client from being weighed.
Restricting the client from being weighed might exacerbate anxiety around weight gain and contribute to the client's preoccupation with weight. However, monitoring weight under the supervision of healthcare professionals is important in managing anorexia nervosa.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Antidepressants usually take several weeks to start taking effect, so the statement "I can be on my antidepressant taking three to five days to be effective" is not correct.
B. While positive thinking can play a role in managing mood, depression is a complex disorder that often requires more than just positive thoughts to treat. The statement "I can cure my depression by thinking positive thoughts" oversimplifies the condition.
C. "I will attend psychotherapy to help manage my depression."
Explanation:
Depressive disorders, including major depression, are complex conditions that typically require a multifaceted approach to treatment. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is an important component of treating depression. It involves working with a trained therapist to explore and address the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors contributing to the depression. Psychotherapy can help individuals develop coping strategies, improve problem-solving skills, and gain insight into their condition.
D. Depression is not something that can be simply chosen to be stopped voluntarily. It is a mental health disorder that often requires professional treatment and support. The statement "I need to make a voluntary choice to stop feeling depressed" does not accurately capture the nature of depression.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A) Decreased display of emotions:
While changes in emotional expression can occur in individuals with dementia, it's not a primary manifestation that is typically emphasized when educating families. Behavioral and psychological symptoms, including changes in emotion and personality, can be seen in dementia, but forgetfulness progressing to disorientation is a more direct and characteristic symptom of the condition.
B) Forgetfulness gradually progressing to disorientation
Explanation:
When educating the family of a client with dementia, the nurse should inform them to expect forgetfulness that gradually progresses to disorientation. Dementia is a progressive cognitive decline that affects memory, thinking, and reasoning. Forgetfulness is often one of the initial symptoms of dementia, and as the condition advances, individuals can become disoriented to time, place, and even people. This progression occurs due to the degeneration of brain cells and the accumulation of abnormal proteins.
C) Personality traits that are opposite of original traits:
Changes in personality traits can indeed occur as a result of dementia, but this may not be the most prominent or early manifestation that the nurse would want to highlight when educating the family. The gradual progression of forgetfulness leading to disorientation is a more specific and foundational aspect of dementia.
D) Decreased auditory and visual acuity:
Decreased sensory acuity, such as auditory and visual acuity, can happen with age and various health conditions, but they are not primary manifestations of dementia. Dementia primarily affects cognitive functions like memory, thinking, and reasoning.

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