A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) reports, "Thoughts stick in my mind and the rituals I use are stupid, but I cannot control them. People laugh at me, but they do not understand how awful it is. I am a burden to my family because I cannot hold a job. I do not know how much longer I can live this way." Which information is most important for the practical nurse (PN) to ask in response to the client's statements?
Question about which rituals are most often used to reduce anxiety.
Ask if the obsessions and compulsions interfere with sleep.
Inquire if the distress could lead to considering suicide as an option.
Determine what makes the client think people are laughing.
The Correct Answer is C
This is the most important information for the PN to ask because it assesses the client's risk for self-harm and suicidal ideation. The client's statements indicate hopelessness, low self-esteem, and impaired functioning, which are potential warning signs of suicide. The PN should ask the client directly about any thoughts or plans of harming themselves and provide support and safety measures as needed.

Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Elevated energy level: While cocaine use can initially cause increased energy, this is a temporary effect. The most consistent and concerning behavioral manifestation is drug-seeking behavior due to intense cravings.
B. Powerful craving for more: Cocaine is highly addictive and stimulates the brain's reward system, leading to a powerful and often uncontrollable craving for more of the drug, which is a hallmark of cocaine dependence.
C. High self-esteem: Cocaine use may cause temporary grandiosity, but it does not result in true or stable high self-esteem. Users often experience mood swings and depressive symptoms after the drug wears off.
D. Euphoria: Cocaine does cause euphoria, but it is short-lived. The craving for more, even after the initial high, is more defining and persistent in clients who test positive and are in the cycle of use.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
- Urinary output is an important indicator of fluid balance and kidney function. After delivery, a woman may experience increased urinary output due to the loss of excess fluid that was retained during pregnancy and the diuretic effect of oxytocin, which is released during breastfeeding. This is a normal and expected finding in the postpartum period.
- However, increased urinary output may also be a sign of urinary retention, which is the inability to empty the bladder completely. Urinary retention can occur due to trauma to the bladder or urethra during delivery, swelling or hematoma of the perineum, epidural anesthesia, or decreased bladder sensation. Urinary retention can lead to complications such as infection, bladder distension, or postpartum hemorrhage.
- Therefore, when a woman who delivered a normal newborn 24 hours ago reports that she seems to be urinating every hour or so, the practical nurse (PN) should measure the next voiding, and then palpate the client's bladder. This will help to assess the amount and quality of urine and the presence or absence of bladder distension. A normal urine output is about 30 ml per hour, and a normal bladder should feel soft and empty after voiding. If the urine output is low or high, or if the bladder feels firm or full after voiding, the PN should report these findings to the primary healthcare provider for further evaluation and intervention.
Therefore, option B is the correct answer, while options A, C, and D are incorrect.
Option A is incorrect because catheterizing the client for residual urine volume is an invasive procedure that should only be done if indicated by the primary healthcare provider.
Option C is incorrect because evaluating for normal involution and massaging the fundus are related to uterine function, not urinary function.
Option D is incorrect because obtaining a specimen for urine culture and sensitivity is not necessary unless there are signs of infection, such as fever, dysuria, or foul-smelling urine.
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