A nurse is caring for a patient with an eating disorder. Which nursing intervention is appropriate for this patient?

Choice A rationale:

Increased levels of cortisol and thyroid hormones. While stress-induced changes in cortisol levels can be seen in individuals with eating disorders, they are not the primary pathophysiological changes associated with these disorders. Cortisol plays a role in the body's response to stress and can contribute to weight gain, but altered levels of other hormones have a more direct impact on eating behaviors in individuals with eating disorders.

Choice B rationale:

Decreased levels of growth hormone and insulin. Growth hormone and insulin do play a role in metabolism and growth, but their levels are not commonly altered in eating disorders in the same way that hormones like leptin and ghrelin are. Altered levels of growth hormone and insulin can lead to metabolic disturbances, but these are not the hallmark changes seen in individuals with eating disorders.

Choice C rationale:

Altered levels of leptin and ghrelin. This is the correct choice. Leptin and ghrelin are two hormones that play a significant role in regulating hunger and satiety. Leptin, produced by adipose tissue, signals to the brain when energy stores are sufficient, thereby reducing appetite. Ghrelin, produced by the stomach, stimulates appetite and promotes food intake. In individuals with eating disorders, these hormones can become dysregulated, leading to disrupted hunger and fullness cues, and contributing to the development and maintenance of the disorder.

Choice D rationale:

Elevated levels of sex hormones and growth hormone. Elevated levels of sex hormones are not a primary pathophysiological change associated with eating disorders. Growth hormone, while important for growth and metabolism, is not a central player in the hormonal changes that drive eating disorder behaviors. Leptin and ghrelin are more directly involved in the dysregulation of eating behaviors seen in these disorders.

Choice A rationale:

This is the correct action to take. Evaluating the effectiveness of nursing interventions involves reassessing the patient's condition and comparing it to the expected outcomes. This step helps determine whether the interventions are producing the desired results and if any adjustments are needed.

Choice B rationale:

While documenting the nursing assessment, diagnosis, and plan is essential for maintaining accurate patient records, it is not the most direct action for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions. Documentation supports continuity of care but doesn't provide immediate insight into intervention outcomes.

Choice C rationale:

Involving the family in the treatment process (choice C) can be important for a patient's overall well-being, but it doesn't directly address the evaluation of nursing interventions. Family involvement is more related to the planning and implementation stages of care.

Choice D rationale:

Consulting with other members of the multidisciplinary team is a collaborative approach to patient care, but it's not the primary action for evaluating the effectiveness of nursing interventions. Team collaboration contributes to comprehensive care but doesn't directly assess intervention outcomes.