A client diagnosed with negative nitrogen balance tells the nurse about participating in ritualistic ...

Correct Answer: 2
Rationale 1: The client's weight loss is not as important as is the harm the fast is doing to the client's protein stores and nitrogen balance.
Rationale 2: A person who fasts will obtain most of his calories from fat metabolism, but some of the body's carbohydrate and protein stores must be used to support brain, nerve, and red blood cell function. The nurse should discuss with the client reasons to ingest carbohydrates to preserve the client's protein stores during the ritualistic fasts.
Rationale 3: The client's need for increased caloric intake after the fast is not as important as is the harm the fast is doing to the client's protein stores and nitrogen balance.
Rationale 4: The importance of the practice to the client is not as important as is the harm the fast is doing to the client's protein stores and nitrogen balance.