What should the nurse do when a patient with anorexia nervosa expresses a fear of gaining weight?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because providing information about the importance of weight gain for health helps educate the patient on the risks of anorexia nervosa. By doing so, the nurse can address the patient's fears in a supportive and informative manner, promoting a better understanding of the need for weight gain. Choice A is incorrect because minimizing the patient's fears may invalidate their feelings and hinder therapeutic communication. Choice C is incorrect as encouraging weight loss can exacerbate the patient's condition and reinforce unhealthy behaviors. Choice D is incorrect because agreeing with the patient's concerns perpetuates the harmful beliefs associated with anorexia nervosa.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Verbally abusing other patients should be the priority focus of limit setting. This behavior poses a direct threat to the safety and well-being of other patients. By addressing verbal abuse first, the nurse can establish boundaries and maintain a safe environment for all patients. Lying to other patients (A) may be addressed but is not as immediate a concern. Flattering the nursing staff (B) is manipulative but not as harmful as verbal abuse. Superficiality during counseling sessions (D) may indicate other issues but is not as urgent as addressing the verbal abuse.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because individuals with personality disorders often evoke countertransference and conflict in staff due to their challenging behaviors and interpersonal dynamics. This can lead to potential misunderstandings and ineffective treatment if not addressed through frequent meetings. Option A is incorrect as flexibility and unconventional responses to stress are not typically the primary concern necessitating frequent meetings. Option B is incorrect as a desire for emotional intimacy is not necessarily a reason for staff to schedule frequent meetings. Option D is incorrect as an impaired ability to develop trusting relationships might be a symptom of a personality disorder, but it is not the characteristic that most necessitates frequent meetings.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because promoting gradual weight gain through a structured meal plan is essential in treating anorexia nervosa. This intervention helps the patient restore their nutritional status and physical health. By providing a structured meal plan, the patient can slowly increase their caloric intake, leading to healthy weight gain. This approach also helps address the underlying psychological and emotional issues associated with the eating disorder. Encouraging the patient to restrict calorie intake (B) is harmful as it perpetuates the cycle of malnutrition. Offering emotional support without addressing food-related behaviors (C) neglects the crucial aspect of nutritional rehabilitation. Focusing on daily exercise (D) may exacerbate the patient's physical health and reinforce unhealthy behaviors.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Height and weight changes. In anorexia nervosa, monitoring height and weight is crucial to assess the severity of malnutrition and potential complications. Weight loss is a key indicator of the patient's nutritional status and overall health decline. Height measurement also helps determine growth patterns in younger patients. Choice B: Food intake and nutritional status, although important, is not the priority as weight changes provide a more direct reflection of the patient's nutritional status. Choice C: Mental health status and body image concerns are significant in anorexia nervosa, but assessing height and weight takes precedence due to the immediate physical risks associated with severe malnutrition. Choice D: Vital signs and cardiovascular function are important, but monitoring height and weight is more specific to the nutritional deficiencies seen in anorexia nervosa.