The nurse is assessing an adolescent female diagnosed with anorexia nervosa who is admitted to the unit with severe malnutrition and electrolyte imbalance.
Which pathological process results from the adolescent's consistent maladaptive behavior?

Choice A rationale:

Review the client's serum calcium level. Rationale: Checking the client's serum calcium level is not the most appropriate action in this situation. Hand and finger spasms during blood pressure measurement are more likely due to discomfort or muscle tension than a calcium deficiency. There is no immediate indication that the client's calcium level needs to be assessed urgently.

Choice B rationale:

Administer an as-needed (PRN) antianxiety medication. Rationale: Administering an antianxiety medication is not indicated in this situation. The client's symptoms of hand and finger spasms during blood pressure measurement are not likely related to anxiety. It is essential to address the immediate issue of obtaining an accurate blood pressure reading.

Choice C rationale:

Ask the UAP to take the blood pressure in the other arm. Rationale: This is the correct answer. When the UAP reports spasms in the client's right hand and fingers while taking blood pressure using the same arm, the nurse should prioritize obtaining an accurate blood pressure measurement. Asking the UAP to use the other arm can help ensure a more reliable reading. Muscle spasms in the arm being used for blood pressure measurement can lead to inaccurate results.

Choice D rationale:

Tell the UAP to use a different sphygmomanometer. Rationale: In this scenario, the issue appears to be related to muscle spasms in the client's hand and fingers rather than the sphygmomanometer itself. Changing the sphygmomanometer is unlikely to resolve the problem. The priority is to obtain an accurate blood pressure reading by addressing the spasms in the arm being used.

Choice A rationale:

This statement is incorrect. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is typically more severe than dysthymia and is characterized by recurrent episodes of severe depression lasting at least two weeks.

Choice B rationale:

This statement is incorrect. Dysthymia is not characterized by alternating episodes of mania and depression. It is a chronic, low-grade depressive disorder.

Choice C rationale:

This statement is incorrect. Dysthymia can impair social and occupational functioning, similar to MDD. Both conditions can have a significant impact on a person's daily life.

Choice D rationale:

This statement is accurate. Dysthymia is a chronic depressive disorder that lasts for at least two years but is generally less severe than MDD. It is characterized by persistent, milder symptoms of depression.