A pregnant adolescent patient states that it is important not to have a baby who weighs too much, and so she is limiting calories. Her weight has decreased from 110 pounds to 106 pounds. Which nursing diagnosis is the priority for this patient?

Question

1. Knowledge Deficit related to fetal development
2. Imbalanced Nutrition: Less than Body requirements related to poor eating habits
3. Disturbed Body Image related to situational crisis
4. Anxiety related to unanticipated pregnancy

Answer 1

2
Rationale 1: One role of the nurse is to explain why food is important to the growing fetus, specifying how each food group will help the fetus develop. However this is not the priority diagnosis.
Rationale 2: Teens might not understand the physiology behind the profound body changes of pregnancy. Pregnant adolescents are just adapting to a new body image created by the changes of puberty when the pregnancy produces rapid and substantial body changes. The desire to maintain a socially desirable figure can lead to nutritional deficits.
Rationale 3: The desire to maintain a socially desirable figure can lead to nutritional deficits. Adolescents are concerned about body image, but this is not the priority diagnosis.
Rationale 4: Although many teens are anxious, this is not the priority diagnosis.