The client states “I can’t go on anymore.
Life sucks and the world would be better off without me.” What is the RN’s best response?

The nurse refuses to care for someone who reminds her of a family member after interviewing the client upon admission. This action is not appropriate in the prevention of liability because it violates the client’s right to receive care and may be considered as discrimination or abandonment. The nurse has a duty to provide care to all clients regardless of their personal feelings or preferences.

Choice A is wrong because establishing rapport with the client in an inpatient psychiatric setting is an appropriate action to prevent liability. It helps to build trust and communication between the nurse and the client and reduces the risk of misunderstanding or conflict.

Choice B is wrong because documenting accurately and honestly in the electronic health record is an appropriate action to prevent liability. It provides evidence of the care provided, the client’s condition and response, and any incidents or complications that occurred.

Choice D is wrong because referring to the policy of the inpatient psychiatric setting when uncertain of a standard of care is an appropriate action to prevent liability. It helps the nurse to follow the best practices and guidelines for providing safe and effective care to the client.

A client who grimaces during a dressing change is showing a nonverbal sign of pain. Grimacing is an expression of facial muscles that indicates discomfort or distress.

The nurse should record this as a symptom of pain and ask the client to rate the pain using a numeric or visual scale.

Choice B is wrong because an elevated heart rate while exercising is not necessarily a symptom of pain. It could be a normal response to increased physical activity or a sign of other conditions such as anxiety, dehydration, or fever.

Choice C is wrong because crying during a procedure is not a reliable indicator of pain. Crying is an emotional response that can be influenced by many factors such as fear, stress, or sadness.

The nurse should not assume that the client is in pain based on crying alone and should ask the client about the reason for crying and the level of pain.

Choice D is wrong because saying “I feel achy all over” is not a specific description of pain.

Aching is a vague term that can refer to different sensations such as soreness, stiffness, or cramping.

The nurse should ask the client to clarify what kind of pain they are feeling, where it is located, how severe it is, and what makes it better or worse.