Final answer:
A nurse would expect to find malnutrition, intestinal blockage, tooth decay, and lead poisoning as risks in a pica patient, with each condition resulting from the ingestion of non-nutritive substances.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a pica patient, a nurse might expect to find several health risks, some of which include malnutrition, intestinal blockage, tooth decay, and lead poisoning. Malnutrition can occur because non-food items ingested may lack necessary nutrients or displace nutritious food intake. Intestinal blockage is a risk because indigestible items can lead to obstructions in the digestive tract. Tooth decay can happen as a result of damage to the teeth due to chewing on hard, non-food objects. Lead poisoning is a particularly serious risk if the patient is ingesting items that contain lead, a toxic substance that can have devastating effects on health, particularly in children where it can result in permanent cognitive and development issues.