A nurse is collecting a history from a client who has depression. Which of the following statements by the client should the nurse identify as a protective factor against suicide?

A. "Why did you feel like giving away your belongings?"
This response is empathetic and invites the client to explore their feelings and motivations. It shows understanding and can help the nurse comprehend the client's emotional state better.

B. "You should find a support group to attend."
This response suggests a proactive step to seek support, which can be helpful. However, it might be premature in this context as the nurse hasn't fully assessed the client's situation yet. It's important to understand the client's feelings and circumstances before recommending specific interventions.

C. "Everyone feels a little down sometimes."
This response minimizes the client's feelings and can be invalidating. It doesn't acknowledge the seriousness of the client's statement, which might discourage them from opening up further.

D. "Can you tell me how you have been feeling lately?"
As previously explained, this response is empathetic and open-ended, encouraging the client to share their emotions and thoughts. It's a good starting point for a therapeutic conversation, allowing the nurse to assess the client's current mental state.

A. Summarize the objectives the client achieved during the relationship:
This intervention is more appropriate for the termination phase of the nurse-client relationship. During termination, the nurse summarizes the progress made, goals achieved, and skills learned during the therapeutic relationship. This helps both the nurse and the client reflect on the journey and celebrate accomplishments.

B. Present issues regarding confidentiality:
Discussing confidentiality is crucial and typically occurs in the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship. Establishing trust and clarifying the boundaries of confidentiality early in the relationship helps the client feel secure and promotes open communication. This choice is relevant during the initial stages of the therapeutic relationship.

C. Promote the client's problem-solving skills:
This is the correct choice for the working phase of the nurse-client relationship. In this phase, the focus is on active problem-solving, exploring feelings and thoughts, and encouraging the client to develop coping strategies. The nurse supports the client in identifying problems, generating solutions, and implementing effective strategies. Promoting the client's problem-solving skills is a central aspect of therapeutic work during this phase.

D. Identify the responsibilities of the client and nurse:
Clarifying the responsibilities of both the client and nurse is essential to establish clear roles and expectations. This usually occurs in the orientation phase. During this phase, the nurse explains the purpose of the therapeutic relationship, the roles of both parties and the boundaries of the nurse-client interaction. Establishing clear responsibilities helps create a foundation for a respectful and effective therapeutic alliance.