A client reads the nutritional chart and follows it accurately. The nurse also notes that the client understands the need for a balanced diet and its relationship with quick recovery. In which domain is the client demonstrating successful learning?

Choice A reason: Homeostasis is the body’s ability to maintain stable internal conditions, including fluid and electrolyte balance. Imbalances, like hypokalemia or hypernatremia, disrupt cellular function, potentially causing arrhythmias or neurological issues. Restoring homeostasis is the priority, as it addresses the root cause, ensuring proper organ function and preventing complications.

Choice B reason: Preventing infection is important but not the priority in fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Infections may occur secondary to other conditions, but the primary concern is correcting imbalances that affect cellular and organ function. Homeostasis must be achieved first to stabilize the client’s physiological state before addressing infection risks.

Choice C reason: Promoting mobility is relevant for overall health but not the priority in fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Imbalances can cause muscle weakness or arrhythmias, but restoring electrolyte levels takes precedence to ensure safe mobility. Without homeostasis, mobility efforts may be unsafe or ineffective due to physiological instability.

Choice D reason: Enhancing nutrition supports overall recovery but is secondary to correcting fluid and electrolyte imbalances. Nutritional deficiencies may contribute to imbalances, but the immediate goal is restoring homeostasis to prevent acute complications like cardiac or neurological dysfunction. Nutrition can be addressed once the client is stabilized.

Choice A reason: Hypocalcemia, or low blood calcium, results from impaired parathyroid function or vitamin D deficiency, causing muscle cramps and tetany. Laxative abuse primarily causes potassium loss through diarrhea, not calcium. Calcium homeostasis is tightly regulated, and laxative-induced diarrhea does not significantly deplete calcium, making this an unlikely cause of the client’s symptoms.

Choice B reason: Hyperkalemia, elevated blood potassium, occurs in conditions like renal failure or excessive potassium intake. Laxative abuse leads to potassium loss via frequent bowel movements, causing hypokalemia, not hyperkalemia. High potassium can cause cardiac arrhythmias, but the client’s fatigue and weakness align more closely with low potassium levels.

Choice C reason: Hypokalemia, low blood potassium, is a common consequence of laxative abuse due to excessive fecal potassium excretion. Potassium is essential for muscle and nerve function, and its depletion causes fatigue, weakness, and potential arrhythmias. The client’s symptoms of tiredness and weakness strongly indicate hypokalemia as the primary electrolyte imbalance.

Choice D reason: Hypernatremia, high blood sodium, results from dehydration or excessive sodium intake. While laxative abuse can cause dehydration, the primary electrolyte loss is potassium, not sodium retention. Hypernatremia may cause neurological symptoms like confusion, but the client’s fatigue and weakness are more characteristic of hypokalemia than hypernatremia.