A nurse on an inpatient eating disorders unit is caring for a client who has anorexia nervosa and has a body mass index of 17.2. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? (Select all that apply.).

The correct answer is choice D: "The partner has lost 25 lbs in the past 3 months."

Choice D rationale:

This choice is the correct answer because significant weight loss in a caregiver, such as the partner of a client with Alzheimer's disease, is indicative of caregiver role strain. Caregiver role strain refers to the physical, emotional, and psychological stress experienced by caregivers due to the demands of providing care for a loved one. Weight loss in this context suggests that the partner's own health and well-being are being compromised due to the caregiving responsibilities.

Choice A rationale:

This choice might be related to safety concerns and trying to prevent the client from wandering, but it does not directly indicate caregiver role strain. Placing locks at the top of doors is a common safety measure to prevent clients with Alzheimer's disease from wandering and getting lost.

Choice B rationale:

This choice is actually a positive observation. Redirecting a frustrated client is a helpful and appropriate caregiving strategy. It indicates that the partner is actively engaged in managing the client's behavior and emotions, which is not a sign of caregiver role strain.

Choice C rationale:

Hiring a house cleaner is a practical decision and could be a sign of the partner's effort to manage their caregiving responsibilities more effectively. While it might imply a certain level of stress, it doesn't directly point to caregiver role strain as much as the significant weight loss does.

Choice A rationale:

The client taking an overdose of the medication is unlikely to be the cause of the symptoms. Disulfiram (Antabuse) is a medication used to treat alcohol dependence by causing adverse effects when alcohol is consumed. However, an overdose would not result in severe nausea and vomiting as described.

Choice B rationale:

Experiencing common side effects of the medication is a possibility, but severe nausea and vomiting are not typical side effects of disulfiram. The medication's primary purpose is to induce unpleasant effects when alcohol is consumed, not to cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms.

Choice C rationale:

Demonstrating an allergic response to the medication could potentially cause various symptoms, but severe nausea and vomiting are not commonly associated with allergies to disulfiram. Allergic reactions often manifest as skin rashes, itching, and respiratory symptoms, which are not described in this scenario.

Choice D rationale:

The correct choice. Disulfiram works by inhibiting alcohol metabolism, leading to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, a toxic substance, when alcohol is consumed. This buildup of acetaldehyde results in unpleasant symptoms like severe nausea, vomiting, headache, and flushing. Since the client has recently started taking disulfiram and reports experiencing severe nausea and vomiting after discontinuing the medication, it is most likely that the client consumed alcohol while taking the medication, triggering the adverse reaction.