How to Provide Nursing Interventions For Patients With Anorexia Nervosa

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder where a person does not eat enough food. This leads to inadequate nutrition and loss of weight. It is a psychological problem where a person a distorted perception of what they look like. Nurses provide certain interventions when they manage anorexic patients

Instructions

• 1

  Assess the anorexic patient. Find out what kinds of food he or she has been eating and in what amounts. Ask family members and other care givers to get an accurate understanding of your patients eating habits. Take your patients vital signs, listen to his heart, lungs and bowels and note any abnormal sounds. Next, measure his height and weight, then look for signs of bloody vomit and tooth decay which could be a sign of forced vomitting. Find out what drives your patients eating disorder for proper nursing interventions.

• 2

  Monitor the anorexic patient's lab values. Check his albumin levels, if they are low, it could lead to fluid shifts in the body. Check his blood count. He may be anemic and have low immune status due to low red and white blood cells. Electrolyte levels should be checked as well for proper functioning of the heart.

• 3

  Establish a trusting relationship with your patient. Help the patient with anorexia nervosa develop a healthy body image by encouraging him or her to talk about themselves and encouraging them to seek counselling services. Provide your patient with adequate fluids, small frequent meals and praise when there is improved eating and weight gain. Give your patient opportunities to be involved in his care.

• 4

  Teach your patient about healthy diets. Let your patient know what foods are good for them and ways to incorporate them into their diet. Let them know what starvation does to their bodies and the medical conditions that may arise from the use of pharmaceutic agents to induce weight loss. Be sure to involve their family in their care.