A 22-year-old woman is admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa.She is 163 cm tall and weighs 41 kg.On admission,her laboratory tests reveal hypokalemia,hypercholesterolemia,and iron-deficiency anemia.In planning care for the patient,the nurse places the highest priority on which of the following nursing diagnoses?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hypokalemia can lead to cardiac arrhythmias and decreased cardiac output, which is a life-threatening complication. Therefore, the nurse should prioritize monitoring the patient's electrolyte levels and addressing any imbalances to prevent cardiac complications. While the other nursing diagnoses are also relevant to the patient's care, they are not as acutely life-threatening as the risk for decreased cardiac output.

A 22-Year-Old Woman Is Admitted to the Hospital with a Diagnosis