A client diagnosed with major depressive disorder asks, “What part of my brain controls my emotions?” Which nursing response is appropriate?

Choice A reason: Antisocial personality disorder involves disregard for others’ rights, impulsivity, and manipulation, not indecision or need for reassurance. These individuals act independently, often violating social norms, and lack the excessive reliance on others seen in the client’s behavior, making this choice incorrect for the described manifestations.

Choice B reason: Avoidant personality disorder is characterized by social withdrawal due to fear of rejection, not indecision or constant reassurance-seeking. While avoidant individuals may lack confidence, their primary issue is social anxiety, not reliance on others for decision-making, making this choice incorrect for the client’s symptoms.

Choice C reason: Schizoid personality disorder involves emotional detachment and preference for solitude, not indecision or reassurance-seeking. These individuals are indifferent to others’ input and rarely seek guidance, contrasting with the client’s dependent behavior, making this choice incorrect for the described manifestations.

Choice D reason: Dependent personality disorder is marked by excessive reliance on others for decision-making and constant need for reassurance due to fear of abandonment and low self-efficacy. The client’s inability to decide and need for validation align with this disorder’s core features, involving submissive behavior and anxiety, making this the correct choice.

Choice A reason: Prolonged rehabilitation unit stays increase MRSA risk due to extended exposure to healthcare settings, where resistant bacteria thrive. However, this risk is less specific than antibiotic use, as it depends on factors like hygiene practices and patient contact. MRSA colonization often results from environmental exposure, but antibiotics directly drive resistance development.

Choice B reason: Recent antibiotic use is the highest risk factor for hospital-acquired MRSA, as it disrupts normal microbial flora, promoting resistant strain overgrowth. Broad-spectrum antibiotics, like fluoroquinolones or cephalosporins, select for MRSA by eliminating susceptible bacteria, allowing resistant strains to colonize skin or mucous membranes, increasing infection risk significantly.

Choice C reason: Recent surgical procedures elevate MRSA risk due to invasive interventions breaching skin barriers, providing entry points for bacteria. Surgical wounds are susceptible to colonization, but this risk is secondary to antibiotic use, which directly fosters resistant strain selection and proliferation in the hospital environment.

Choice D reason: Current intensive care unit stays increase MRSA risk due to critical illness, invasive devices, and frequent antibiotic exposure. However, this is less specific than recent antibiotic use, which directly alters microbial ecology, promoting MRSA colonization and infection across various hospital settings, not just ICUs.