Correct Answer: individual coping, ineffective to address the scenario of a patient who overeats when depressed and is trying to alter her eating habits, the most appropriate nursing diagnosis is "individual coping, ineffective." this diagnosis suggests that the patient's current coping mechanisms, such as using food for comfort, are not effectively managing her stress or emotional needs. the choice of this diagnosis over others like "altered nutrition" or "obesity" is based on the information provided, which indicates that the overeating may not consistently lead to excessive nutritional intake or obesity but is rather a behavioral response to emotional distress.
here’s an expanded explanation of why "individual coping, ineffective" is the appropriate diagnosis:
**1. understanding ineffective coping:**
ineffective coping refers to an individual's inability to use appropriate and effective strategies to handle life’s stresses and emotional conflicts. this diagnosis is pertinent when a person’s coping strategies (in this case, overeating) do not alleviate distress or could be contributing to further health issues. since the patient turns to overeating as a solace during depressive episodes, it indicates that her coping strategy is not only ineffective but potentially harmful.
**2. relevance of coping mechanism to nursing interventions:**
identifying "individual coping, ineffective" as a nursing diagnosis allows healthcare professionals to focus on the root cause of the patient’s behavior rather than just the symptoms (overeating). nursing interventions can then be tailored to enhance the patient’s coping skills, perhaps by introducing stress management techniques, counseling, or therapy that targets the underlying depression and its manifestations. this approach aims to provide more sustainable and healthier coping mechanisms than overeating.
**3. exclusion of other diagnoses:**
- "nutrition, more than body requires" might imply a consistent pattern of consuming more calories than the body needs to function optimally, leading to potential nutritional imbalances or weight gain. however, the scenario does not necessarily suggest that the patient’s overall nutritional intake is consistently excessive.
- "obesity" as a diagnosis would be dependent on the patient’s overall body weight and body mass index (bmi), which are not specified in the scenario. also, obesity is a condition, not a behavior.
- "altered nutrition" might imply that there are deficiencies or excesses in the patient's nutritional intake significant enough to impact health directly, which again, is not explicitly indicated here.
**4. importance of addressing emotional health:**
by focusing on the coping aspect, it also underscores the importance of addressing mental and emotional health as integral to physical health. it recognizes the complex interplay between emotional states (like depression) and physical health behaviors (like eating habits).
thus, "individual coping, ineffective" not only captures the patient’s current challenge but also directs the intervention towards improving her overall well-being by addressing her mental health and emotional coping strategies, rather than just focusing on dietary intake or weight.
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