A nurse in a mental health clinic is reviewing laboratory results for a client who has a prescription for risperidone. For which of the following findings should the nurse notify the provider?

A. Implement measures to prevent intentional self-inflicted injury:
This choice is the priority. Individuals with borderline personality disorder are at an increased risk of self-harm and suicidal behaviors. Implementing measures to prevent intentional self-inflicted injury, such as close monitoring, removing potentially harmful objects, and creating a safe environment, is crucial to ensuring the client's safety and well-being.

B. Discuss the appropriate use of assertive behavior with the client:
Teaching assertive behavior is an important aspect of therapy for individuals with borderline personality disorder. Learning to express emotions and needs in a healthy, assertive manner can improve their interpersonal skills and relationships. However, this choice is secondary to ensuring the client's safety. Safety concerns need to be addressed before moving on to other therapeutic interventions.

C. Encourage the client to attend weekly support group meetings:
Support group meetings can provide valuable social support and a sense of belonging for individuals with borderline personality disorder. Being part of a supportive community can offer understanding and coping strategies. While this is a beneficial intervention, it is not the priority. Safety concerns and addressing self-harm risk take precedence.

D. Assist the client to maintain awareness of her thoughts and feelings:
Developing self-awareness and emotional regulation skills is essential in managing borderline personality disorder. Techniques such as mindfulness and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can help individuals become more aware of their thoughts and emotions. While important for long-term management, this intervention is not the priority when immediate safety concerns are present. Safety should always be the first focus of care.

A. Clients who are involuntarily committed do not maintain access to legal counsel.
This statement is incorrect. Clients who are involuntarily committed generally do have the right to legal counsel. They can challenge their commitment in a court of law, and legal representation is often provided to them if they cannot afford it.

B. Clients must be informed of the risks of treatment.
This statement is correct. Informed consent is a fundamental principle in healthcare, including mental health treatment. Clients have the right to be fully informed about the risks and benefits of any treatment or procedure before giving consent.

C. Clients who have a severe mental illness cannot request a psychiatric advance directive.
This statement is incorrect. Clients with severe mental illness can, and should, create psychiatric advance directives. These directives allow individuals to specify their preferences regarding mental health treatment in advance, ensuring their wishes are respected even if they are not able to communicate them at a later time due to their mental condition.

D. Clients who are violent can refuse chemical restraint.
This statement is generally incorrect. In emergency situations where a client poses an immediate danger to themselves or others, chemical restraint might be administered without the client's consent to ensure safety. However, there are strict guidelines and regulations surrounding the use of chemical restraints, and they should only be used in specific situations and as a last resort. In non-emergency situations, clients generally have the right to refuse any treatment, including chemical restraint, unless it is court-ordered due to their condition posing an imminent risk.