A nurse is conducting an assessment of a patient with an eating disorder. Which of the following is a nursing responsibility in this assessment?

Choice A rationale:

Stabilizing the patient's physical condition. This is the correct choice. In the treatment of anorexia nervosa, it is crucial to address the medical complications that arise from severe malnutrition and weight loss. Refeeding and restoring the patient's nutritional status are top priorities to prevent further health deterioration. This often requires a structured refeeding plan and medical monitoring to ensure gradual weight gain and avoid refeeding syndrome, a potentially life-threatening condition that can occur when nutrients are reintroduced too rapidly.

Choice B rationale:

Addressing the psychological aspects of the disorder. Addressing the psychological aspects of anorexia nervosa is indeed an essential component of treatment, but it usually comes after stabilizing the patient's physical condition. The distorted body image, fear of weight gain, and other psychological factors need to be addressed in therapy and counseling during the recovery process. However, attempting to address these psychological aspects before stabilizing the patient's physical health can be challenging and less effective.

Choice C rationale:

Preventing relapse and maintaining recovery. Preventing relapse and maintaining recovery are important treatment goals in the long-term management of anorexia nervosa. However, these goals typically come into play once the patient's physical condition has been stabilized and nutritional rehabilitation has been initiated. Long-term therapy, support groups, and follow-up care are crucial to prevent relapse and maintain progress.

Choice D rationale:

Providing ongoing follow-up care. Providing ongoing follow-up care is indeed a necessary aspect of treating anorexia nervosa. After the initial stabilization and intensive treatment phase, ongoing monitoring, therapy, and medical follow-up are vital to support the patient's sustained recovery. However, just offering ongoing follow-up care without addressing the immediate medical needs and nutritional rehabilitation would not be sufficient in treating the acute phase of anorexia nervosa.

Choice A rationale:

Gastric emptying. Gastric emptying refers to the process by which the stomach contents are emptied into the small intestine. While it can be affected by various factors, such as the type of food consumed, it's not a typical gastrointestinal symptom associated with eating disorders. Eating disorders often involve disturbances in eating behaviors, body image, and psychological aspects rather than the mechanical process of gastric emptying.

Choice B rationale:

Constipation and diarrhea. Constipation and diarrhea can be associated with various gastrointestinal conditions, but they are not the hallmark symptoms of eating disorders. In some cases, individuals with anorexia nervosa might experience constipation due to low food intake, but this is not a defining feature of eating disorders as a whole.

Choice C rationale:

Abdominal pain and bloating. Abdominal pain and bloating are common gastrointestinal symptoms in individuals with eating disorders, particularly those who engage in binge eating or consume large amounts of food in a short period. The discomfort from overeating or consuming excessive amounts of food can lead to abdominal pain and bloating. Additionally, purging behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting, can also cause irritation to the stomach lining and result in abdominal pain.

Choice D rationale:

Nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are indeed common symptoms in individuals with eating disorders, especially those with bulimia nervosa. The act of binge eating followed by purging through vomiting is a key characteristic of this disorder. However, the question is asking about gastrointestinal symptoms typically associated with eating disorders in general, and not all individuals with eating disorders engage in purging behaviors.