NUR 256 Mental Health Exam 4
Questions and Answers Galen College of
Nursing
Feeding & Eating Disorders
1. Which finding is most characteristic of anorexia nervosa?
A. Restriction of food intake with significantly low body weight
B. Recurrent hallucinations
C. Persistent elevated mood
D. Excessive alcohol use
Answer: A
Rationale: Anorexia nervosa involves restricted intake and significantly low body weight, along
with disturbance in body image or weight-related thinking.
2. A client with anorexia nervosa is admitted with weakness and dizziness. Which assessment is
the priority?
A. Favorite foods
B. Cardiovascular status and electrolyte levels
C. Social media use
D. Recreational interests
Answer: B
Rationale: Severe malnutrition can cause electrolyte abnormalities, dysrhythmias, hypotension,
and other life-threatening complications.
3. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by:
A. Persistent food restriction only
B. Recurrent binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors
C. Complete loss of appetite
D. Psychotic symptoms
Answer: B
Rationale: Bulimia involves recurrent binge episodes with behaviors such as vomiting, fasting,
or excessive exercise.
4. Which behavior is an example of a compensatory behavior?
A. Eating breakfast
B. Drinking water
,C. Self-induced vomiting after a binge
D. Attending therapy
Answer: C
Rationale: Purging is an inappropriate compensatory behavior used to prevent weight gain.
5. A client with bulimia has frequent vomiting. Which electrolyte imbalance is especially
concerning?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Repeated vomiting can cause significant potassium loss and potentially dangerous
dysrhythmias.
6. Which finding suggests possible dehydration in a client with an eating disorder?
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Orthostatic hypotension
C. Bounding pulse
D. Increased urine output
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluid loss can cause orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, dry mucous membranes,
and decreased urine output.
7. Which statement demonstrates distorted body image?
A. “I am extremely overweight,” despite being severely underweight.
B. “I want to improve my nutrition.”
C. “I feel tired today.”
D. “I would like to talk with my family.”
Answer: A
Rationale: Distorted perception of body size or weight is common in anorexia nervosa.
8. Which nursing intervention is appropriate for a client with anorexia nervosa?
A. Encourage excessive exercise
B. Establish structured nutritional support
C. Allow unlimited food restriction
D. Focus only on weight
Answer: B
Rationale: Structured nutritional rehabilitation is an important part of treatment.
,9. Which approach should the nurse avoid when caring for a client with an eating disorder?
A. Consistent expectations
B. Nonjudgmental communication
C. Power struggles about food
D. Monitoring physical status
Answer: C
Rationale: Power struggles can increase resistance and interfere with therapeutic care.
10. A client with anorexia has a heart rate of 42/min and reports dizziness. The nurse should:
A. Encourage exercise
B. Report the findings promptly
C. Ignore the findings
D. Offer coffee
Answer: B
Rationale: Severe bradycardia and dizziness may indicate cardiovascular compromise.
11. Which laboratory finding may occur with repeated purging?
A. Low potassium
B. High oxygen saturation
C. High hemoglobin from increased production
D. Increased calcium in every case
Answer: A
Rationale: Vomiting and laxative misuse can produce hypokalemia.
12. Which client statement indicates a need for further teaching?
A. “Purging can cause electrolyte problems.”
B. “I should follow my treatment plan.”
C. “Vomiting after every meal is a safe way to control my weight.”
D. “I should report weakness or palpitations.”
Answer: C
Rationale: Purging can cause serious electrolyte and cardiac complications.
13. A client with bulimia reports weakness and palpitations. What should the nurse assess first?
A. Cardiac status and electrolytes
B. Favorite television program
C. Sleep preferences
D. Family vacation plans
Answer: A
Rationale: Weakness and palpitations may indicate a dangerous electrolyte disturbance.
, 14. Which intervention promotes recovery from an eating disorder?
A. Multidisciplinary treatment
B. Isolation
C. Punishment
D. Ignoring nutritional needs
Answer: A
Rationale: Treatment often involves nursing, medical, nutritional, and mental-health
professionals.
15. Which finding may occur with severe malnutrition?
A. Cardiac dysrhythmias
B. Increased muscle mass
C. Improved immunity
D. Persistent hypertension in every client
Answer: A
Rationale: Malnutrition and electrolyte abnormalities can cause serious cardiac complications.
16. A client says, “I ate too much, so I have to exercise for three hours.” This behavior may
indicate:
A. Compensatory behavior
B. Normal nutrition
C. Delirium
D. Hallucination
Answer: A
Rationale: Excessive exercise can be used as a compensatory behavior after binge eating.
17. Which goal is most appropriate for eating-disorder treatment?
A. Establish healthier eating patterns and improve physical and psychological health
B. Achieve rapid weight loss
C. Eliminate all carbohydrates
D. Avoid all meals
Answer: A
Rationale: Recovery focuses on nutritional stability, healthy behaviors, and psychological
functioning.
18. Which statement by a client with anorexia requires further assessment?
A. “I am afraid of gaining any weight.”
B. “I want to participate in therapy.”
C. “I am learning about balanced nutrition.”
D. “I am working with my treatment team.”
Questions and Answers Galen College of
Nursing
Feeding & Eating Disorders
1. Which finding is most characteristic of anorexia nervosa?
A. Restriction of food intake with significantly low body weight
B. Recurrent hallucinations
C. Persistent elevated mood
D. Excessive alcohol use
Answer: A
Rationale: Anorexia nervosa involves restricted intake and significantly low body weight, along
with disturbance in body image or weight-related thinking.
2. A client with anorexia nervosa is admitted with weakness and dizziness. Which assessment is
the priority?
A. Favorite foods
B. Cardiovascular status and electrolyte levels
C. Social media use
D. Recreational interests
Answer: B
Rationale: Severe malnutrition can cause electrolyte abnormalities, dysrhythmias, hypotension,
and other life-threatening complications.
3. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by:
A. Persistent food restriction only
B. Recurrent binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors
C. Complete loss of appetite
D. Psychotic symptoms
Answer: B
Rationale: Bulimia involves recurrent binge episodes with behaviors such as vomiting, fasting,
or excessive exercise.
4. Which behavior is an example of a compensatory behavior?
A. Eating breakfast
B. Drinking water
,C. Self-induced vomiting after a binge
D. Attending therapy
Answer: C
Rationale: Purging is an inappropriate compensatory behavior used to prevent weight gain.
5. A client with bulimia has frequent vomiting. Which electrolyte imbalance is especially
concerning?
A. Hypokalemia
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Hypernatremia
D. Hypercalcemia
Answer: A
Rationale: Repeated vomiting can cause significant potassium loss and potentially dangerous
dysrhythmias.
6. Which finding suggests possible dehydration in a client with an eating disorder?
A. Moist mucous membranes
B. Orthostatic hypotension
C. Bounding pulse
D. Increased urine output
Answer: B
Rationale: Fluid loss can cause orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, dry mucous membranes,
and decreased urine output.
7. Which statement demonstrates distorted body image?
A. “I am extremely overweight,” despite being severely underweight.
B. “I want to improve my nutrition.”
C. “I feel tired today.”
D. “I would like to talk with my family.”
Answer: A
Rationale: Distorted perception of body size or weight is common in anorexia nervosa.
8. Which nursing intervention is appropriate for a client with anorexia nervosa?
A. Encourage excessive exercise
B. Establish structured nutritional support
C. Allow unlimited food restriction
D. Focus only on weight
Answer: B
Rationale: Structured nutritional rehabilitation is an important part of treatment.
,9. Which approach should the nurse avoid when caring for a client with an eating disorder?
A. Consistent expectations
B. Nonjudgmental communication
C. Power struggles about food
D. Monitoring physical status
Answer: C
Rationale: Power struggles can increase resistance and interfere with therapeutic care.
10. A client with anorexia has a heart rate of 42/min and reports dizziness. The nurse should:
A. Encourage exercise
B. Report the findings promptly
C. Ignore the findings
D. Offer coffee
Answer: B
Rationale: Severe bradycardia and dizziness may indicate cardiovascular compromise.
11. Which laboratory finding may occur with repeated purging?
A. Low potassium
B. High oxygen saturation
C. High hemoglobin from increased production
D. Increased calcium in every case
Answer: A
Rationale: Vomiting and laxative misuse can produce hypokalemia.
12. Which client statement indicates a need for further teaching?
A. “Purging can cause electrolyte problems.”
B. “I should follow my treatment plan.”
C. “Vomiting after every meal is a safe way to control my weight.”
D. “I should report weakness or palpitations.”
Answer: C
Rationale: Purging can cause serious electrolyte and cardiac complications.
13. A client with bulimia reports weakness and palpitations. What should the nurse assess first?
A. Cardiac status and electrolytes
B. Favorite television program
C. Sleep preferences
D. Family vacation plans
Answer: A
Rationale: Weakness and palpitations may indicate a dangerous electrolyte disturbance.
, 14. Which intervention promotes recovery from an eating disorder?
A. Multidisciplinary treatment
B. Isolation
C. Punishment
D. Ignoring nutritional needs
Answer: A
Rationale: Treatment often involves nursing, medical, nutritional, and mental-health
professionals.
15. Which finding may occur with severe malnutrition?
A. Cardiac dysrhythmias
B. Increased muscle mass
C. Improved immunity
D. Persistent hypertension in every client
Answer: A
Rationale: Malnutrition and electrolyte abnormalities can cause serious cardiac complications.
16. A client says, “I ate too much, so I have to exercise for three hours.” This behavior may
indicate:
A. Compensatory behavior
B. Normal nutrition
C. Delirium
D. Hallucination
Answer: A
Rationale: Excessive exercise can be used as a compensatory behavior after binge eating.
17. Which goal is most appropriate for eating-disorder treatment?
A. Establish healthier eating patterns and improve physical and psychological health
B. Achieve rapid weight loss
C. Eliminate all carbohydrates
D. Avoid all meals
Answer: A
Rationale: Recovery focuses on nutritional stability, healthy behaviors, and psychological
functioning.
18. Which statement by a client with anorexia requires further assessment?
A. “I am afraid of gaining any weight.”
B. “I want to participate in therapy.”
C. “I am learning about balanced nutrition.”
D. “I am working with my treatment team.”
