A school nurse is performing annual height and weight screening. The nurse notes that three females who are close friends each lost 15 pounds over the past year. What is the priority nursing action in this situation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The priority nursing action in this situation is to obtain a nutritional history for each of the adolescents to determine if their weight loss is related to an underlying medical condition or if it is due to intentional dieting, which could potentially lead to disordered eating behaviors. Calling the parents or referring the adolescents to a psychologist may not be necessary if the weight loss is found to be a result of a healthy behavior, such as increased physical activity and improved nutrition. Speaking with the girls in a group about anorexia nervosa may be premature and could potentially cause unnecessary anxiety and self-consciousness.

A School Nurse Is Performing Annual Height and Weight Screening