A nurse provides health teaching for a patient diagnosed with binge-purge bulimia. Priority information the nurse should provide relates to:
a. self-monitoring of daily food and fluid intake.
b. establishing the desired daily weight gain.
c. how to recognize hypokalemia.
d. self-esteem maintenance.
Answer: C
Hypokalemia results from potassium loss associated with vomiting. Physiological integrity can be maintained if the patient can self-diagnose potassium deficiency and adjust the diet or seek medical assistance.