Final answer:
The school nurse assessing a child for bulimia nervosa would expect to find frequent episodes of binge eating followed by purging. This behavior is a key characteristic of bulimia nervosa and distinguishes it from other eating disorders. C) Frequent episodes of binge eating followed by purging
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing a 12-year-old client suspected of having bulimia nervosa, the school nurse would expect to see frequent episodes of binge eating followed by purging. Bulimia nervosa is characterized by these episodes of binging on large amounts of food, which leads to extreme fear of weight gain. To compensate for the overeating, individuals with bulimia nervosa engage in purging behaviors such as vomiting, using laxatives or diuretics, excessive exercising, or other methods to eliminate the consumed food. Other potential signs that the nurse may observe include indications of regular vomiting such as dental erosion, electrolyte imbalances, and swollen salivary glands.
These symptoms align with the documented traits of bulimia nervosa, distinguishing it from other eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, which is marked by severe restriction of calorie intake, or binge eating disorder, where individuals binge but do not engage in purging behaviors. Bulimia nervosa can consequently lead to serious health problems, including cardiac issues, gastrointestinal damage, and other psychological problems such as anxiety and depression.