Final answer:
The nurse's priority action when implementing a program of health education for a patient with type 2 diabetes is to assess the patient's readiness to learn.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse's priority action when implementing a program of health education for a patient with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes would be to assess the patient's readiness to learn.
By assessing the patient's readiness to learn, the nurse can determine the patient's motivation, willingness, and ability to participate in the education program. This ensures that the education provided is tailored to the patient's individual needs and preferences, increasing the likelihood of successful learning and behavior change.
Once the patient's readiness to learn has been assessed, the nurse can then proceed with teaching the patient the basic pathophysiology of diabetes, teaching survival skills for diabetes, and identifying the patient's body mass index.