A nurse is caring for a client who requires a crisis intervention for acute anxiety. Which of the following actions should be the nurse's highest priority?

Choice A rationale:

While assigning a client to a private room might seem like a way to protect their privacy and offer a calm environment, it could also create isolation and reduce opportunities for observation by staff. This could increase the risk of a subsequent suicide attempt without timely intervention.

It's essential to balance privacy with safety needs, and a private room might not always be the most appropriate choice for a client who has recently attempted suicide.

Choice B rationale:

Placing metal utensils on the client's meal tray could introduce potential weapons that could be used for self-harm. It's crucial to remove any objects that could be used for suicide attempts, including utensils, sharp objects, belts, cords, or medications.

Providing safe alternatives, such as plastic utensils, is essential to reduce the risk of harm.

Choice C rationale:

Inspecting the client's personal belongings is a critical safety measure to ensure they don't have access to items that could be used for self-harm. This includes checking for sharp objects, medications, ropes, belts, or other potential hazards.

Removing any such items is essential to create a safe environment and reduce the risk of further suicide attempts.

Choice D rationale:

Tucking bedcovers over the client's hands and arms might restrict their movement, but it doesn't address the underlying risk of suicide. It's not an effective method of preventing self-harm, and it could even cause discomfort or agitation to the client.

More direct and comprehensive safety measures, such as close observation and removal of potential hazards, are necessary.

Choice A rationale: Fear of rejection from staff is not typically a driving factor for the repetitive behaviors seen in OCD. While social anxiety can be a component of many mental health disorders, the compulsions in OCD are usually driven by intrusive thoughts or fears that are specific to the individual, rather than fears about social rejection.

Choice B rationale: Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a separate condition from OCD. While individuals with NPD may exhibit certain repetitive behaviors, these are typically driven by a need for admiration and a lack of empathy for others, rather than the intrusive thoughts and fears that drive the compulsions in OCD12.

Choice C rationale: While certain medications can have side effects that might cause unusual behaviors, the repetitive behaviors (compulsions) seen in OCD are not typically a side effect of antidepressant medications. In fact, certain types of antidepressants are often used in the treatment of OCD12.

Choice D rationale: The repetitive behaviors observed in individuals with OCD, such as repeatedly applying, removing, and reapplying makeup, are indeed attempts to reduce anxiety. These individuals experience intrusive thoughts, fears, or images (obsessions) that cause significant anxiety. The repetitive behaviors (compulsions) are performed in an attempt to alleviate the distress caused by these obsessions. Despite the temporary relief, the individual often ends up trapped in a cycle of obsessions and compulsions.