A school nurse is talking with a 13-year-old female at her annual health-screening visit. Which of the following comments made by the adolescent should be the nurse's priority to address?

A. Praise the client for looking at herself in a mirror.

While body image concerns are common in anorexia nervosa, praising the client for looking at herself in a mirror may inadvertently reinforce the focus on appearance and body image, which can be counterproductive.

B. Ask the client to agree to talk to a nurse whenever she feels the urge to exercise.

Explanation: For a client with anorexia nervosa, overexercising can be part of the unhealthy behaviors associated with the disorder. Collaborative communication is important in addressing and managing these behaviors. Asking the client to agree to talk to a nurse whenever the urge to exercise arises is a supportive approach. It allows the nurse to provide emotional support, explore the client's motivations and triggers for overexercising, and work together on finding healthier coping strategies.

C. Reprimand the client about the potential damage that has occurred due to overexercising her body.

Reprimanding the client may lead to feelings of guilt and shame, which are counterproductive in supporting recovery. A more empathetic and supportive approach is needed.

D. Restrict the client from being weighed.

Restricting the client from being weighed might exacerbate anxiety around weight gain and contribute to the client's preoccupation with weight. However, monitoring weight under the supervision of healthcare professionals is important in managing anorexia nervosa.

A. Schedule regular weigh-in times: Monitoring the client's weight on a regular schedule is important in managing anorexia nervosa. It helps track progress and any potential complications related to weight loss.

B. Allow the client to eat at any time: For individuals with anorexia nervosa, there is typically a structured meal plan that is carefully monitored by healthcare professionals. Allowing the client to eat at any time might disrupt the planned nutritional intake.

C. Provide privacy when friends visit: Privacy is important, but it should be balanced with ensuring the client's safety and adherence to the treatment plan. Visitors might need to be supervised to prevent any behaviors that could exacerbate the disorder.

D. Compliment the client for weight gain: While support and encouragement are important, complimenting a client for weight gain might inadvertently reinforce a focus on body image and reinforce disordered eating behavior. It's crucial to provide positive reinforcement for adherence to the treatment plan and progress in recovery, rather than emphasizing weight changes.