NCLEX RN Practice Question # 573

NCLEX Examination.

Practice Question # 573.

Anorexia nervosa (overview)

Description

• Onset often is associated with a stressful life event.
• The client intensely fears obesity.
• Body image is distorted, and the client has a disturbed self-concept.
• The client is preoccupied with foods that prevent weight gain and has a phobia against foods that produce weight gain.
• The eating disorder can be life-threatening.
• Death can occur from starvation, suicide, cardiomyopathies, or electrolyte imbalance.

Assessment

• Refusal to eat and appetite loss
• Appetite denial
• Feelings of lack of control
• Self-induced vomiting and self-administered enemas
• Compulsive exercising
• Overachiever and perfectionist
• Decreased temperature, pulse, and blood pressure
• Weight loss
• Gastrointestinal disturbances
• Constipation
• Electrolyte imbalances
• Scaly, dry skin
• Presence of lanugo on extremities
• Sleep disturbances
• Hormone deficiencies
• Amenorrhea for at least three consecutive
• menstrual periods
• Teeth and gum deterioration
• Cyanosis and numbness of extremities
• Esophageal varices from vomiting
• Bone degeneration