A nurse caring for a client recently admitted to the hospital for anorexia nervosa enters the client's room and finds her in the middle of performing rapid exercises. Which action would be the priority?

Question

1. Interrupt the client, and offer to take her for a walk.
2. Allow the client to complete her exercise program.
3. Ignore the behavior, and return when the client is finished.
4. Tell the client that she is not allowed to exercise rigorously.

Answer 1

1

Rationale: When working with a client diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, the nurse must limit the amount of rigorous exercise that the client performs while providing for appropriate types and amounts of exercise. Clients with anorexia nervosa are frequently preoccupied with rigorous exercise and push themselves beyond normal limits to work off caloric intake, which causes fur-ther deterioration of their physical state. "Allow the client to complete her exercise program," "ignore the behavior, and return when the client is finished," and "tell the client that she is not allowed to exercise rigorously" are inappropriate priority actions.