Which intervention best monitors the health status of a patient newly admitted for a di-agnosis of bulimia nervosa?
a. Scheduling a bone mineral density screening
b. Performing a portable electrocardiogram (ECG)
c. Obtaining a urine sample for a urine analysis
d. Arranging for a serum potassium level to be drawn
ANS: D
Patients with bulimia nervosa require initial assessment for acute fluid and electrolyte imbal-ances (particularly serum potassium) for the presence of life-threatening imbalances. Bone mineral density screening for osteopenia and osteoporosis and assessment is appropriate but it does not have priority over of the blood work to identify an acute life-threatening condition. The remaining options are not diagnostic tests that are generally required of this diagnosis.
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