Inpatient Survey of Nursing Care Measures for Treatment of Patients with Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

This study identifies and describes the inpatient nursing treatment and rationale for patients with anorexia nervosa in nationally recognized psychiatric inpatient settings. The study was undertaken to guide planned change in the nursing protocol on the authors' unit. Sixteen units were surveyed in an extensive telephone interview using structured interview guides. Findings indicated that behavioral management with contingency plans was the mainstay of treatment for the patients regardless of the identified unit treatment philosophy. This approach is effective for patient weight gain within an inpatient setting. Based on these data, the authors concluded that the program which was ongoing at their site was more restrictive than that in most other settings. Changes were made in the unit program to lessen the controls. Objective measures of weight and length of stay indicated that patients do as well with the revised plan as they did with the more controlled plan.