A nurse is collecting data from a client who is 2 days postpartum. The client tells the nurse she cannot afford to pay for baby formula. The nurse should refer the client to which of the following members of the interprofessional team?

The nurse should identify that emotional dysregulation and fear of abandonment indicate manifestations of borderline personality disorder. Emotional dysregulation is a hallmark of borderline personality disorder (BPD), characterized by intense and rapidly shifting emotions. Fear of abandonment is a core feature of BPD, leading to anxiety and distress over perceived or anticipated rejection by significant others.

A. Tactile hallucinations: Tactile hallucinations refer to false perceptions of touch or physical sensations on the skin, which are not typically associated with borderline personality disorder. These hallucinations are more commonly associated with conditions like schizophrenia or substance-induced disorders.
B. Emotional ability: Emotional dysregulation is a hallmark of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Individuals with BPD often experience intense and rapidly shifting emotions that can be triggered by seemingly minor events. This emotional volatility can lead to difficulties in interpersonal relationships and impulsive behaviors.
C. Fear of abandonment: Fear of abandonment is a core feature of borderline personality disorder. Individuals with BPD often experience intense anxiety and distress when they perceive or anticipate rejection or abandonment by significant others. This fear can drive their behaviors, including efforts to prevent real or imagined abandonment.
D. Elevated body temperature: Elevated body temperature is not a characteristic manifestation of borderline personality disorder. Instead, it may be associated with medical conditions such as infections or inflammatory processes.
E. Increased heart: While emotional distress and anxiety are common in individuals with borderline personality disorder, "increased heart" is not a specific manifestation of the disorder. Anxiety and emotional distress can lead to physiological responses such as increased heart rate, but this is a general response rather than a defining characteristic of BPD.

A. Correct. Observing the client during and after meals is a priority because clients with bulimia nervosa often engage in episodes of binge eating followed by purging behaviors. Monitoring the client's behavior during meals and immediately after can help assess for potential purging behaviors.
B. Incorrect. While involving the client in meal planning might be helpful, it is not the first action to address potential purging behaviors.
C. Incorrect. Instructing the client about effective coping strategies is important, but observing for potential purging behaviors is the initial action to address the client's immediate safety.
D. Incorrect. Referring the client to a support group is beneficial, but it is not the first action to address the client's immediate risk of purging behaviors.