A 14-year-old girl is being admitted to the eating disorders unit of the hospital. The girl has a two-year history of anorexia nervosa and recently has sustained additional weight loss and electrolyte imbalances. During hospitalization, the priority concern for the health care team will be:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The priority concern for the healthcare team when admitting a patient with anorexia nervosa is to provide nutritional support. Patients with this condition have a distorted body image, restrict their food intake, and engage in compulsive exercising. As a result, they suffer from malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances, and a host of physical complications. Therefore, the priority is to ensure that the patient receives adequate nutritional support to stabilize their condition and restore their weight. Counseling, therapy, and antidepressant drugs may also be necessary, but they are secondary concerns compared to the patient's immediate physical needs.

A 14-Year-Old Girl Is Being Admitted to the Eating Disorders