A patient reveals that she induces vomiting as often as a dozen times a day. Which of the following would the nurse expect assessment findings to reveal?

Choice A reason: Frequent induced vomiting, a common compensatory behavior in bulimia nervosa, leads to the excessive loss of gastric hydrochloric acid and potassium. This depletion results in metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia, which is a critically low serum potassium level that can cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias and muscle weakness. Choice B reason: While tachycardia can occur secondary to dehydration or electrolyte imbalances, it is a non-specific sign and not the primary metabolic finding expected from chronic emesis. Hypokalemia is a more direct and clinically significant biochemical consequence of losing intracellular and extracellular fluids through the upper gastrointestinal tract. Choice C reason: Hypercalcemia, or elevated serum calcium, is not a standard finding associated with chronic vomiting. In fact, repetitive emesis is more likely to cause shifts in other electrolytes like chloride and sodium. Calcium levels are generally maintained by parathyroid function unless there is significant renal impairment or specific supplement abuse. Choice D reason: Hypolipidemia, or abnormally low lipid levels, is not a diagnostic expectation for a patient inducing vomiting. While nutritional deficiencies are common in eating disorders, the acute physiological risk and the hallmark laboratory finding specifically related to the act of purging is the disruption of serum electrolytes, particularly potassium.