Name that Disorder
This client has excessive worry about having a serious illness. Their physical assessment is essentially normal, but they spend hours online researching diseases and often seek reassurance from multiple providers.
What is Illness Anxiety Disorder?
This client with an eating disorder has dry, brittle hair, sunken eyes, cold intolerance, and a BMI far below normal. Their heart rate is 48 bpm.
What is severe malnutrition related to Anorexia Nervosa?
“You have four clients. Which client should the nurse see first?
A) Client with somatic symptom disorder asking when their next PRN pain med is due.
B) Client with anorexia nervosa scheduled for weights in 1 hour.
C) Client withdrawing from alcohol with tremors and BP 168/94.
D) Client with bulimia nervosa requesting to speak with the dietitian.”
Who is the client withdrawing from alcohol with tremors and high BP? (Answer C – risk for worsening withdrawal/DTs).
This vitamin deficiency is common in chronic alcohol use and can contribute to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome. Nurses ensure supplementation in clients withdrawing from alcohol.
What is Thiamine (Vitamin B1)?
A client with alcohol use disorder is admitted and their last drink was several hours ago. What is the nurse’s priority initial assessment to ensure safety?
What are vital signs and assessment for early withdrawal symptoms?
(Especially HR, BP, tremors, diaphoresis.)
This client has one or more distressing physical symptoms, such as chronic pain and fatigue. They frequently visit the clinic, and the symptoms cause significant disruption in their daily life. Their anxiety about these symptoms is high.
What is Somatic Symptom Disorder
A client has calluses on the knuckles, dental enamel erosion, and complains of frequent sore throats. Weight is within normal range.
What is Bulimia Nervosa? (signs: Russell’s sign, dental erosion)
“Which assessment finding in a client with anorexia nervosa is the priority to report to the provider?
A) Dry skin
B) Lanugo on arms
C) Heart rate 44 bpm
D) Mild constipation”
What is heart rate 44 bpm? (Bradycardia = hemodynamic instability).
This medication is used to support alcohol abstinence. Clients must avoid all forms of alcohol, including in mouthwash or cooking, or they may develop flushing, nausea, and hypotension.
What is Disulfiram (Antabuse)?
You are caring for a client with Anorexia Nervosa. What is a key safety-focused nursing action when beginning nutritional rehabilitation?
What is starting low and going slow with calories and closely monitoring electrolytes and vital signs?
(re-feeding safety)
After a stressful event, this client suddenly develops paralysis in their legs. Diagnostic testing shows no neurologic cause, and the client appears oddly calm about their sudden loss of mobility.
What is Functional Neurologic Symptom Disorder
A client being treated for alcohol use disorder presents with tremors, diaphoresis, irritability, and mild tachycardia about 8–12 hours after their last drink.
What are early signs of Alcohol Withdrawal?
A client with long-term opioid use reports muscle aches, nausea, and anxiety after trying to stop at home. Which action is the nurse’s priority?
A) Encourage fluids and rest
B) Ask about last use and amount, assess VS, and notify provider
C) Provide information on community support groups
D) Offer a warm blanket and dim the lights
What is assess last use/V/S and notify the provider to manage withdrawal safely? (Safety + full assessment before comfort/teaching.)
This medication is an opioid antagonist used for emergency treatment of respiratory depression in opioid overdose.
What is Naloxone (Narcan)?
A client with a history of heavy drinking is now confused, has ataxia, and nystagmus. What is the priority intervention?
What is administer Thiamine (Vitamin B1) as ordered and notify the provider?
(Think Wernicke’s encephalopathy risk.)
This client severely restricts food intake, has an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted body image. BMI is significantly low. Physical exam reveals lanugo, bradycardia, and hypotension.
What is Anorexia Nervosa?
A client using opioids long term presents with pinpoint pupils, respiratory rate of 8/min, low blood pressure, and decreased level of consciousness.
What is an Opioid Overdose?
You are reinforcing teaching with a client newly diagnosed with binge eating disorder. Which statement from the client is most concerning and needs immediate follow-up?
A) ‘I feel out of control when I start eating.’
B) ‘Sometimes I eat until I feel painfully full.’
C) ‘I’ve been thinking everyone would be better off if I weren’t here.’
D) ‘I’m worried I’ll gain weight in treatment.’
What is ‘I’ve been thinking everyone would be better off if I weren’t here’? (Suicidal ideation = priority safety concern).
This lab value is especially important to monitor when refeeding a client with severe anorexia due to the risk of refeeding syndrome.
What is serum Phosphate?
(You can prompt students: and also K+ and Mg2+.)
A client on an inpatient unit is withdrawing from alcohol and begins to have agitation, hallucinations, and severe hypertension. What is the nurse’s priority action?
What is notify the provider immediately and prepare to administer prescribed benzodiazepines and implement safety/low-stimulation measures?
(High risk for delirium tremens.)
This client has recurrent binge-eating episodes at least once a week for 3 months. They eat large amounts of food in a short period and feel a loss of control, but they do not regularly engage in compensatory behaviors (like vomiting, laxatives, or excessive exercise).
What is Binge Eating Disorder (BED)?
A client with a history of severe anorexia has just started nutritional support. Within a few days, their labs show low phosphate, low potassium, and low magnesium. They complain of weakness and shortness of breath.
What is Refeeding Syndrome?
The nurse receives report on four clients. Who is the priority?
A) Client with conversion disorder who suddenly can’t move their right arm but is calm and stable.
B) Client with bulimia whose potassium is 3.3 mEq/L and denies symptoms.
C) Client with alcohol use disorder now confused, diaphoretic, with HR 124 and BP 190/104.
D) Client with somatic symptom disorder requesting to review their lab results again.
Who is the client with alcohol use disorder who is confused and hypertensive? (Answer C – possible delirium tremens, life-threatening.)
A client is started on Bupropion (Wellbutrin) for depression and smoking cessation. The nurse knows this medication should be used cautiously or avoided in clients with this condition because it can lower the seizure threshold.
What is a Seizure disorder (or history of seizures/eating disorders with purging)?
A client with a history of bulimia nervosa is admitted for weakness and dizziness. Labs show a potassium of 2.8 mEq/L. The client reports feeling ‘like my heart is fluttering’ and you notice an irregular pulse. What is the nurse’s priority action?
What is place the client on a cardiac monitor and notify the provider immediately, anticipating potassium replacement?
(Rationale: Severe hypokalemia + arrhythmia symptoms = high risk for life-threatening dysrhythmias, so continuous monitoring and rapid intervention are the priority.)