VARCAROLIS CH 14- EATING DISORDERS
Over the past year, a woman has cooked gourmet meals for her family but eats only tiny servings.
She wears layered, loose clothing and now has amenorrhea. Her current weight is 95 pounds, a
loss of 35 pounds. Which medical diagnosis is most likely?
a. Binge-eating disorder
b. Anorexia nervosa
c. Bulimia nervosa
d. Pica - Answer- B
Disturbed body image is the nursing diagnosis for a patient diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Which outcome indicator is most appropriate to monitor?
a. Weight, muscle, and fat are congruent with height, frame, age, and sex.
b. Calorie intake is within the required parameters of the treatment plan.
c. Weight reaches the established normal range for the patient.
d. The patient expresses satisfaction with body appearance. - Answer- D
A patient who was referred to the eating disorders clinic has lost 35 pounds in the past 3 months.
To assess the patient's oral intake, the nurse should ask which assessment question?
a. "Do you often feel fat?"
b. "Who plans the family meals?"
c. "What do you eat in a typical day?"
d. "What do you think about your present weight?" - Answer- C
A patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa virtually stopped eating 5 months ago and has lost
25% of body weight. A nurse asks, "Describe what you think about your present weight and how
you look." Which response by the patient is most consistent with the diagnosis?
a. "I am fat and ugly."
b. "What I think about myself is my business."
c. "I am grossly underweight, but that's what I want."
d. "I am a few pounds overweight, but I can live with it." - Answer- A
A patient was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. The history shows the patient virtually stopped
eating 5 months ago and has lost 25% of body weight. The patient's current serum potassium is
2.7 mg/dL. Which nursing diagnosis is most applicable?
a. Adult failure to thrive, related to abuse of laxatives as evidenced by electrolyte imbalances and
weight loss
b. Disturbed energy field, related to physical exertion in excess of energy produced through caloric
intake as evidenced by weight loss and hyperkalemia
c. Ineffective health maintenance, related to self-induced vomiting as evidenced by swollen parotid
glands and hyperkalemia
d. Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements, related to malnutrition as evidenced by loss
of 25% of body weight and hypokalemia - Answer- D
Outpatient treatment is planned for a patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Select the most
important outcome related to the nursing diagnosis: imbalanced nutrition: less than body
requirements. Within 1 week, the expectation is that the patient will demonstrate what?
a. Weigh self accurately using balanced scales.
, b. Limit exercise to less than 2 hours daily.
c. Select clothing that fits properly.
d. Gain to pound. - Answer- D
Which nursing intervention has priority as a patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa begins to
gain weight?
a. Assess for depression and anxiety.
b. Observe for adverse effects of refeeding.
c. Communicate empathy for the patient's feelings.
d. Help the patient balance energy expenditure and caloric intake - Answer- B
A patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa is resistant to weight gain. What is the rationale for
establishing a contract with the patient to participate in measures designed to produce a specified
weekly weight gain?
a. Because severe anxiety concerning eating is expected, objective and subjective data must be
routinely collected.
b. Patient involvement in decision making increases a sense of control and promotes compliance
with the treatment.
c. A team approach to planning the diet ensures that physical and emotional needs of the patient
are met.
d. Because of increased risk for physical problems with refeeding, obtaining patient permission is
required. - Answer- B
The nursing care plan for a patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa includes the intervention
"Monitor for complications of refeeding." Which body system should a nurse closely monitor for
dysfunction?
a. Renal
b. Endocrine
c. Central nervous
d. Cardiovascular - Answer- D
A psychiatric clinical nurse specialist uses cognitive therapy techniques with a patient diagnosed
with anorexia nervosa. Which statement by the staff nurse supports this type of therapy?
a. "What are your feelings about not eating the food that you prepare?"
b. "You seem to feel much better about yourself when you eat something."
c. "It must be difficult to talk about private matters to someone you just met."
d. "Being thin does not seem to solve your problems. You are thin now but still unhappy." -
Answer- D
An appropriate intervention for a patient diagnosed with bulimia nervosa who binges, and purges
is to teach the patient what intervention?
a. Eat a small meal after purging.
b. Avoid skipping meals or restricting food.
c. Concentrate oral intake after 4 pm daily.
d. Understand the value of reading journal entries aloud to others. - Answer- B
What behavior by a nurse caring for a patient diagnosed with an eating disorder indicates the
nurse needs supervision?
a. The nurse's comments are compassionate and nonjudgmental.
b. The nurse uses an authoritarian manner when interacting with the patient.
Over the past year, a woman has cooked gourmet meals for her family but eats only tiny servings.
She wears layered, loose clothing and now has amenorrhea. Her current weight is 95 pounds, a
loss of 35 pounds. Which medical diagnosis is most likely?
a. Binge-eating disorder
b. Anorexia nervosa
c. Bulimia nervosa
d. Pica - Answer- B
Disturbed body image is the nursing diagnosis for a patient diagnosed with an eating disorder.
Which outcome indicator is most appropriate to monitor?
a. Weight, muscle, and fat are congruent with height, frame, age, and sex.
b. Calorie intake is within the required parameters of the treatment plan.
c. Weight reaches the established normal range for the patient.
d. The patient expresses satisfaction with body appearance. - Answer- D
A patient who was referred to the eating disorders clinic has lost 35 pounds in the past 3 months.
To assess the patient's oral intake, the nurse should ask which assessment question?
a. "Do you often feel fat?"
b. "Who plans the family meals?"
c. "What do you eat in a typical day?"
d. "What do you think about your present weight?" - Answer- C
A patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa virtually stopped eating 5 months ago and has lost
25% of body weight. A nurse asks, "Describe what you think about your present weight and how
you look." Which response by the patient is most consistent with the diagnosis?
a. "I am fat and ugly."
b. "What I think about myself is my business."
c. "I am grossly underweight, but that's what I want."
d. "I am a few pounds overweight, but I can live with it." - Answer- A
A patient was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. The history shows the patient virtually stopped
eating 5 months ago and has lost 25% of body weight. The patient's current serum potassium is
2.7 mg/dL. Which nursing diagnosis is most applicable?
a. Adult failure to thrive, related to abuse of laxatives as evidenced by electrolyte imbalances and
weight loss
b. Disturbed energy field, related to physical exertion in excess of energy produced through caloric
intake as evidenced by weight loss and hyperkalemia
c. Ineffective health maintenance, related to self-induced vomiting as evidenced by swollen parotid
glands and hyperkalemia
d. Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements, related to malnutrition as evidenced by loss
of 25% of body weight and hypokalemia - Answer- D
Outpatient treatment is planned for a patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Select the most
important outcome related to the nursing diagnosis: imbalanced nutrition: less than body
requirements. Within 1 week, the expectation is that the patient will demonstrate what?
a. Weigh self accurately using balanced scales.
, b. Limit exercise to less than 2 hours daily.
c. Select clothing that fits properly.
d. Gain to pound. - Answer- D
Which nursing intervention has priority as a patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa begins to
gain weight?
a. Assess for depression and anxiety.
b. Observe for adverse effects of refeeding.
c. Communicate empathy for the patient's feelings.
d. Help the patient balance energy expenditure and caloric intake - Answer- B
A patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa is resistant to weight gain. What is the rationale for
establishing a contract with the patient to participate in measures designed to produce a specified
weekly weight gain?
a. Because severe anxiety concerning eating is expected, objective and subjective data must be
routinely collected.
b. Patient involvement in decision making increases a sense of control and promotes compliance
with the treatment.
c. A team approach to planning the diet ensures that physical and emotional needs of the patient
are met.
d. Because of increased risk for physical problems with refeeding, obtaining patient permission is
required. - Answer- B
The nursing care plan for a patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa includes the intervention
"Monitor for complications of refeeding." Which body system should a nurse closely monitor for
dysfunction?
a. Renal
b. Endocrine
c. Central nervous
d. Cardiovascular - Answer- D
A psychiatric clinical nurse specialist uses cognitive therapy techniques with a patient diagnosed
with anorexia nervosa. Which statement by the staff nurse supports this type of therapy?
a. "What are your feelings about not eating the food that you prepare?"
b. "You seem to feel much better about yourself when you eat something."
c. "It must be difficult to talk about private matters to someone you just met."
d. "Being thin does not seem to solve your problems. You are thin now but still unhappy." -
Answer- D
An appropriate intervention for a patient diagnosed with bulimia nervosa who binges, and purges
is to teach the patient what intervention?
a. Eat a small meal after purging.
b. Avoid skipping meals or restricting food.
c. Concentrate oral intake after 4 pm daily.
d. Understand the value of reading journal entries aloud to others. - Answer- B
What behavior by a nurse caring for a patient diagnosed with an eating disorder indicates the
nurse needs supervision?
a. The nurse's comments are compassionate and nonjudgmental.
b. The nurse uses an authoritarian manner when interacting with the patient.
