Practice Question
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has anorexia nervosa. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply.)
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Lanugo
Rationale:
Lanugo
🔹 Lanugo is the fine, soft hair that develops on the body as a compensatory mechanism to maintain body heat due to severe loss of subcutaneous fat.
🔹 It is a classic physical finding in anorexia nervosa, reflecting prolonged malnutrition and extremely low body weight.
🔹 The appearance of lanugo indicates that the body is in a state of starvation, attempting to preserve core temperature.
🔹 Monitoring for lanugo helps in assessing the severity of malnutrition and guides the urgency of nutritional interventions.
Cold extremities
🔹 Cold hands and feet occur because of decreased body fat and poor peripheral circulation, secondary to low metabolic rate and hypotension.
🔹 Hypothermia is common in anorexia nervosa due to reduced caloric intake and slowed metabolism.
🔹 This finding highlights the body’s impaired thermoregulation and should prompt careful monitoring for hypothermia and circulatory compromise.
🔹 Nurses should ensure clients are kept warm and comfortable while initiating nutritional rehabilitation.
Hypotension
🔹 Low blood pressure results from dehydration, malnutrition, and decreased cardiac output in anorexia nervosa.
🔹 Chronic caloric restriction leads to muscle wasting, including cardiac muscle, causing bradycardia and hypotension.
🔹 Hypotension places the client at risk for syncope, dizziness, and falls, which require close monitoring.
🔹 This finding also reflects severe energy deficiency, necessitating nutritional support and cardiac monitoring during care.
Want to practice more questions like this?
This question is from ATI LPN MENTAL HEALTH 2023 which contains 51 questions.
More Questions from This Exam
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving treatment for alcohol detoxification. Which of the following medications should the nurse expect to administer during this phase of the client's care?
Answer Choices:
A client is becoming increasingly agitated, anxious, and tense. The nurse notes a clenched jaw and a change in the pitch of the client's voice. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement first?
Answer Choices:
A nurse is collecting data from an older adult client who was admitted with heart failure. The nurse should report which of the following findings to the provider as an indication of delirium?
Answer Choices:
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has bulimia nervosa. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
Answer Choices:
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has bipolar disorder and whose admission was voluntary. For which of the following interventions should the nurse confirm that the client has given informed consent?
Answer Choices:
Question Details
- Category: LPN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: LPN ATI Exams
- Domain: Mental Health
- Answer Choices: 5