Final answer:
The nursing observation that aligns with the patient's concerns about bulimia nervosa is A, where the patient is of normal weight and reports binge eating followed by purging.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nursing observation that best supports the patient's statement that she may be struggling with bulimia nervosa is: A. The patient is of normal weight for her height and reports binge eating followed by purging. This description aligns with the diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa, which involves recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by inappropriate compensatory behaviors, such as purging, to prevent weight gain. Patients with bulimia nervosa typically maintain a body weight that is normal or slightly above or below the standard for their height.
Bulimia nervosa is characterized by a cycle of bingeing and compensatory behaviors. The mentioned behaviors and normal weight status strongly suggest bulimia nervosa. In contrast, being extremely underweight and perceiving oneself as overweight is more indicative of anorexia nervosa, and dietary cravings for non-food items, like soil and clay, can signify pica, which is different from bulimia. A diet that is extremely restrictive in terms of food variety and quantity might suggest anorexia nervosa or another disorder, but not bulimia.