The nurse continues to care for the client. Exhibits The nurse is planning care for the client. Which of the following parameters should the nurse plan to monitor throughout the client's stay? Select all that apply
Explanation & Rationale
A. Anxiety level: Clients with eating disorders often have underlying anxiety that contributes to their maladaptive eating behaviors. Monitoring anxiety levels helps evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and identify triggers for disordered eating patterns. B. Blood pressure: The client presents with hypotension (89/58 mmHg) and bradycardia, both of which are common in malnutrition and electrolyte imbalance. Continuous monitoring is essential to detect hemodynamic instability and prevent cardiac complications. C. Body weight: Regular weight monitoring provides objective data on nutritional progress and treatment effectiveness. Weight should be obtained consistently under the same conditions to accurately assess improvement or further weight loss. D. Participation in group therapy: While group therapy can support recovery, monitoring participation is not a key physiologic or immediate safety parameter. It is part of long-term psychosocial assessment rather than daily clinical monitoring. E. White blood cell count: Although malnutrition can eventually cause bone marrow suppression, WBC monitoring is not routinely prioritized unless signs of infection or severe nutritional deficiencies appear. F. Oral intake: Monitoring dietary intake is vital for evaluating adherence to nutritional plans and ensuring adequate caloric and fluid consumption. This helps prevent refeeding complications and promotes steady recovery. G. Self-esteem: Low self-esteem often perpetuates disordered eating and distorted body image. Monitoring this aspect helps gauge emotional progress and the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions aimed at improving self-worth.