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) Assess for signs of impulsive eating.
D) Explore needs for health teaching.

For most patients with bulimia nervosa, certain situations trigger the urge to binge; purging then follows. Often the triggers are anxiety-producing situations. Identification of 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 highest priority.