A patient undergoing radiation treatment for laryngeal cancer has developed xerostomia and mucositis, leading to an imbalance in nutritional intake.
What is the most likely reason for this issue?

Based on the information provided, the client is most likely experiencinganorexia nervosa.This is suggested by her significant weight loss, bradycardia, hypothermia, lanugo-type hair, and her expressed fear of gaining weight despite being underweight. However, this is a preliminary assessment and a definitive diagnosis should be made by a healthcare professional.

Actions the nurse should take to address this condition include:

• Acknowledge anxious feelings: It’s important to validate the client’s feelings and fears about food and weight gain.This can help build trust and facilitate further discussion about her health.
• Provide emotional support: Emotional support is crucial in managing eating disorders.The nurse can provide reassurance, listen empathetically, and encourage the client to express her feelings.

Parameters the nurse should monitor to assess the client’s progress include:

• Nutritional intake: Monitoring the client’s food and fluid intake can help assess her nutritional status and response to treatment.
• Weight and BMI: Regular monitoring of the client’s weight and BMI can provide objective measures of her nutritional status and response to treatment.

Choice A rationale

Phobia is characterized by an excessive and irrational fear response. In this case, the patient’s symptoms do not indicate a specific fear, but rather general distress and intrusive thoughts related to a traumatic event.

Choice B rationale

The patient’s symptoms, which include distressing thoughts and memories of the house collapsing, difficulty sleeping, and a significant change in mood, are indicative of acute stress disorder related to traumatic stress exposure. Acute stress disorder can occur within a month of experiencing a traumatic event, like a natural disaster.

Choice C rationale

Hallucinations involve perceiving something that is not present. The patient’s symptoms do not include any indications of hallucinations.

Choice D rationale

Separation anxiety involves excessive fear or anxiety about separation from those to whom the individual is attached. The patient’s symptoms do not indicate a fear of separation, but rather distress related to a traumatic event.