A nurse is providing discharge teaching to a client diagnosed with bipolar disorder who will be discharged with a prescription for lithium. The nurse should teach the client that which of the following is a risk factor for lithium toxicity?

Choice A reason:
Complicated grieving is a natural response to the loss of a loved one, characterized by intense sorrow and longing. However, the client's statement indicates a sense of hopelessness and a lack of desire to continue living, which goes beyond the typical symptoms of complicated grieving. While it is important to assess for complicated grieving, the client's expression of not wanting to go on suggests a more immediate risk.

Choice B reason:
Chronic pain can lead to depression and decreased quality of life, but the client does not mention any physical pain. The absence of such complaints makes chronic pain a less likely cause for the client's current state. It is still important to assess for any physical discomfort that the client may not be communicating.

Choice C reason:
The client's statement of questioning the purpose of continuing life is a clear indicator of suicidal ideation, which warrants immediate further assessment. The risk for suicide is often heightened following significant life events such as the loss of a spouse. The nurse must prioritize this assessment to ensure the client's safety.

Choice D reason:
Social isolation can contribute to feelings of loneliness and depression, particularly in the elderly who have lost a significant other. While social isolation is a concern and can exacerbate other mental health issues, the client's explicit questioning of life's worth points more directly to a risk for suicide.

Choice A reason:

This hypothesis aligns with the typical motivations seen in factitious disorder, where individuals intentionally produce or exaggerate symptoms of illness in themselves to receive attention, sympathy, and care from medical personnel¹. The nurse should prioritize understanding this behavior to manage the client's care effectively and to avoid unnecessary medical interventions.

Choice B reason:

Similar to choice A, individuals with factitious disorder may induce injury or illness to fulfill a psychological need for attention and validation. Recognizing this motivation is crucial for the nurse to provide appropriate psychological support and to prevent further self-harm.

Choice C reason:

While misdiagnosis or medical error can occur, this is not typically a hypothesis that should be prioritized in the care of a client with factitious disorder. The disorder involves intentional actions by the client, not errors by healthcare providers.

Choice D reason:

Seeking financial gain is more characteristic of malingering than factitious disorder. In factitious disorder, the primary motivation is psychological gratification from playing the patient role, rather than external incentives like financial gain.

Choice E reason:

Factitious disorder involves the intentional production of symptoms without an underlying medical condition. Therefore, this hypothesis would not be a priority in the care of a client with factitious disorder, as the symptoms are not related to a genuine medical condition but are self-induced.