A nurse is providing care for a patient who has expressed suicidal intentions.
Which hould the nurse ask the patient?
What past experiences have led you to feel this desperate?
Can you explain how you plan to commit suicide?
What do you hope to achieve by ending your life?
Can you tell me why you feel so depressed that you want to end your life?
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A rationale
While understanding a patient’s past experiences can provide context for their current emotional state, it may not directly address the immediate risk of suicide. It’s important to focus on the present situation and the patient’s current feelings.
Choice B rationale
If a patient has a specific plan for suicide, it indicates a higher level of risk. By asking about their plan, the nurse can assess the immediacy and severity of the patient’s suicidal intent. This information is crucial for determining the appropriate level of care and intervention.
Choice C rationale
This question could be interpreted as validating or encouraging the patient’s suicidal thoughts. It’s essential to promote safety and positive coping strategies, rather than focusing on the perceived benefits of suicide.
Choice D rationale
While it’s important to understand the feelings driving a patient’s suicidal thoughts, asking why they want to end their life can come across as judgmental. It’s more helpful to ask about their feelings and listen empathetically.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Diagnostic data is a crucial part of a mental health admission assessment. This includes information about the patient’s current and past mental health issues, as well as any relevant medical conditions.
Choice B rationale
While orientation (awareness of time, place, and person) is often assessed during a mental health admission assessment, it is not the primary component of the assessment.
Choice C rationale
Intelligence testing is not typically included in a mental health admission assessment. The focus of the assessment is on the patient’s mental health needs, not their intellectual abilities.
Choice D rationale
While a diagnosis may be determined as a result of a mental health admission assessment, the diagnosis itself is not included in the assessment. The assessment is used to gather the information needed to make a diagnosis.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice B rationale:
Involuntary commitment typically occurs when a person's mental illness makes them a danger to themselves or others. It is essential for the nurse to communicate this crucial information to the client's family to help them understand the necessity of treatment.
Choice A rationale:
While a psychiatrist may be involved in the decision to commit a client involuntarily, simply stating that the client's behavior is irrational does not provide sufficient information about the reasons for commitment (no reference).
Choice C rationale:
The inability to manage daily life affairs may be a factor in considering involuntary commitment, but it is not the primary reason for such a decision (no reference).
Choice D rationale:
Accusation of a legal offense is not directly related to involuntary commitment for psychiatric treatment, which focuses on the client's mental health and potential risk to self or others (no reference).
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