A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a caregiver about how to safely prepare formula for their 3-day-old newborn. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

Rationale:

• 3-month history of unplanned weight loss, increased sweating, heat intolerance, fatigue, and insomnia: These symptoms are consistent with hypermetabolic activity seen in hyperthyroidism, particularly Graves’ disease, and require follow-up and management to prevent complications like thyroid storm.

• Last menstrual period was 3 months ago: Amenorrhea can occur due to hormonal imbalance caused by elevated thyroid hormones. This finding indicates endocrine dysfunction and should be investigated further.

• Skin is warm and moist. Exophthalmos noted, goiter visualized on neck: These are classic physical signs of Graves’ disease, an autoimmune hyperthyroid condition. The exophthalmos (protruding eyes) and goiter (thyroid enlargement) are abnormal and require follow-up.

• Client's partner reports that the client is irritable and anxious lately: Mood changes, such as irritability and anxiety, are common in hyperthyroidism and may affect the client’s quality of life and safety. This finding warrants further psychological and endocrine evaluation.

Rationale:

A. Ensure the client swallows each dose of medication: Clients with recent suicide attempts are at risk for hoarding medications to use in a future overdose. The nurse should closely monitor medication administration and confirm that each dose is swallowed to ensure safety.

B. Limit the personal toiletries in the client's room to cologne: Cologne often contains alcohol and could be misused for ingestion or fire-related self-harm. It should not be permitted. All personal items should be carefully screened to eliminate potential hazards.

C. Observe the client's behavior every 2 hr: Monitoring every 2 hours is insufficient for a client at high risk of suicide. More frequent or continuous observation (such as 1:1 supervision) is typically warranted during the acute phase to ensure immediate safety.

D. Keep the client's door shut when they are in the room: Keeping the door closed limits visibility and increases the risk of the client engaging in self-harm without detection. The door should remain open or observation should be maintained to ensure the client’s ongoing safety.