A client with anorexia nervosa has refused meal trays and supplemental feedings for 3 days fol-lowing admission to the general hospital. The nurse can anticipate that intervention will include:

Question

1. IV infusions beginning immediately and continuing for 48 hours after client be-gins eating
2. Tube feedings until the client eats 90% of all meals for 1 day
3. Placing the client on suicide precautions and one-to-one observation
4. Limiting peer group visitors for 2 weeks

Answer 1

ANS: 2
The priority is to begin refeeding, a procedure that is very threatening to the client, since she will have no control over the weight gain that will occur. Refeeding takes place using foods and flu-ids via the GI tract, rather than by the parenteral route (option 1). 3. Suicide precautions are not indicated at this point, but careful assessments will continue. 4. Visitor restriction is not as com-monly used in general hospital units as it might be on a unit accustomed to behavioral interven-tions.