A school nurse is performing annual height and weight screening. The nurse notes that three adolescent girls who are close friends each lost 15 pounds over the past year. Which is the priority nursing action?
1. Obtaining a nutritional history for each of these adolescents
2. Referring these adolescents to the school psychologist
3. Calling the respective parents to discuss the eating patterns of each adolescent
4. Speaking with the adolescents in a group to discuss the problems associated with anorexia nervosa
1
Explanation:
1. The school nurse must evaluate why these three friends have all lost 15 pounds in 1 year. The best way to begin this assessment is to obtain a nutritional history for each client.
2. Referring the adolescents to a school psychologist without performing a complete nursing assessment is not appropriate.
3. Speaking with the parents would not be appropriate at this time.
4. Discussing anorexia nervosa at this point is too extreme.
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