A nurse is caring for a client in an emergency department (ED). Exhibits The nurse reviews the Nurses’ Notes from Day 1 at 1100. Complete the following sentence by using the lists of options. The nurse should first address the client’s dropdown followed by the client’s dropdown.

The nurse should first address the client’s electrolyte imbalance followed by the client’s obsession with food. Rationale: Electrolyte imbalance: The client has low potassium (3 mEq/L) and low sodium (134 mEq/L), along with a history of recurrent vomiting. Electrolyte disturbances place the client at immediate risk for cardiac dysrhythmias, as evidenced by PVCs on ECG. This is a life-threatening priority according to the ABCs and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, so it must be addressed first. Obsession with food: Once the immediate physiological risk is stabilized, the nurse should address the psychological aspect of bulimia, including the client’s preoccupation with food, binge-purge behaviors, and distorted eating patterns. This aligns with holistic care and ongoing mental health management.