Which nursing intervention has the highest priority for a patient diagnosed with bulimia nervosa?

A) Assist the patient to identify triggers to binge eating.
B) Provide corrective consequences for weight loss.
C) Explore patient needs for health teaching.
D) Assess for signs of impulsive eating.

For most patients with bulimia nervosa, certain situations trigger the urge to binge; purging then follows. The triggers are often anxiety-producing situations. Identifying these triggers makes it possible to break the binge-purge cycle. Because binge eating and purging directly affect physical status, the need to promote physical safety assumes the highest priority. The question calls for an intervention rather than an assessment.