A nurse is developing a health-screening program for clients who are at risk for hypertension.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

People living with HIV/AIDS have a much higher risk of suicide than the general population1.Some of the risk factors for suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and suicide deaths in this group are depression, advanced disease, neurological changes, stigma, poor social support, negative life events, physical pain and fear of rejection.

Based on these risk factors, the response by the client that indicates a higher risk for suicide isd. “I am afraid of experiencing pain near the end.”This response suggests that the client has a low perception of their physical health, a fear of losing control and a pessimistic outlook on their future.These are signs of hopelessness, which is a strong predictor of suicide.

The other responses do not necessarily indicate a high risk for suicide, although they may reflect some challenges that the client is facing. For example, response a. may indicate a desire for autonomy and dignity, response b. may indicate a coping strategy or denial, and response c. may indicate a source of emotional support or dependency. However, these responses do not imply that the client is thinking about harming themselves or ending their life.

Therefore, the home health nurse should assess the client’s level of hopelessness, suicidal ideation and suicide plan, and provide appropriate interventions and referrals to prevent a possible suicide attempt. The nurse should also monitor the client’s mood, pain, medication adherence and social support, and offer education, counseling and resources to improve the client’s quality of life.

Testing a client who has a family history for diabetes mellitus is an example of secondary prevention. Secondary prevention involves screening and early detection of diseases in individuals who are at risk but do not yet have symptoms.

Choice A is not the best answer because educating a client who has hypertension about exercises to reduce blood pressure is an example of tertiary prevention, which involves managing and treating existing diseases.

Choice B is not the best answer because providing nutrition counselling for an adolescent who is underweight is an example of primary prevention, which involves preventing diseases before they occur.

Choice C is not the best answer because teaching a group of school-age children about hand hygiene is also an example of primary prevention.