Which nursing intervention has the highest priority for a patient who is diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and has begun to gain weight?

A. The highest priority is monitoring for refeeding syndrome, a potentially fatal complication when nutrition is reintroduced after prolonged starvation. It causes severe electrolyte shifts (especially hypophosphatemia, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesemia) and cardiac/respiratory complications. B. Important, but not priority. Therapeutic communication builds trust, but physiological safety is the first concern. C. Help the patient balance energy expenditures with caloric intake. – Useful long-term. This supports recovery but is not immediately life-saving. D. Assess for depression and anxiety. – Necessary, but secondary. Mental health evaluation is part of holistic care, but immediate physical safety takes precedence.