A nurse in an urgent care clinic is caring for a client who reports recently using methylenedioxy-methamphetamine.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

Choice A rationale:

The nurse should encourage the client to be assertive. Dependent Personality Disorder is characterized by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior. One of the treatment goals is to help the client develop assertiveness skills to reduce their dependence on others. Encouraging assertiveness allows the client to express their needs and make decisions for themselves, which is an essential aspect of their therapeutic journey toward independence.

Choice B rationale:

Assuming responsibility for making the client's decisions would not be appropriate. It would further reinforce the client's dependent behavior and hinder their progress towards independence. The goal of therapy is to promote autonomy and self-reliance, not to perpetuate dependency.

Choice C rationale:

Maintaining a verbal no-harm contract with the client may be necessary in some cases, especially if the client exhibits self-harming behaviors. However, it is not a primary teaching point when educating the caregiver about managing a client with Dependent Personality Disorder. The focus should primarily be on helping the client develop assertiveness and self-reliance.

Choice D rationale:

Limiting the client's social interactions is not an appropriate intervention. Social support can be beneficial for individuals with Dependent Personality Disorder, as it can help them build self-confidence and reduce their excessive reliance on one individual. Isolating the client would not be in their best interest.

Answer is B: Write the information at an 8th-grade reading level.

This is the best action for the nurse to take because it ensures that the information is accessible and understandable to a wide audience, which is suitable for the general population¹². The other options are not as effective for the following reasons:

- Use a 12-point font size: This is important for readability, but not enough for comprehension. The font size should also match the layout and design of the brochure.
- Explain medical terminology using basic, one-syllable words: This is a good approach, but it does not address the reading level of the content. The nurse should also use simple sentences and avoid jargon.
- Present information from complex to simple: This might be helpful, but it is not the most effective way to educate the public. The nurse should start with the simpler concepts and gradually build on them to explain the more complex aspects of hypertension.