Which of the following principles should the nurse apply when planning nursing care for a client who was admitted after a suicide attempt?

Clients who talk about suicide are less likely to attempt it

Clients who attempt suicide and fail will not try again

Clients who attempt suicide and fail did not really want to die

The more specific the plan, the greater the risk of suicide

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A reason: The belief that clients who talk about suicide are less likely to attempt it is a myth. Verbalizing suicidal ideation often reflects severe distress and heightened risk, as it may indicate prefrontal cortex dysfunction and impaired impulse control. This misconception underestimates the neurobiological basis of suicidal behavior, requiring vigilant assessment.

Choice B reason: Assuming clients who fail a suicide attempt will not try again is incorrect. Previous attempts increase future risk, as suicidal behavior is linked to persistent psychological distress and serotonin dysregulation. This assumption ignores the chronicity of underlying conditions like depression, necessitating ongoing monitoring and intervention to prevent recurrence.

Choice C reason: Claiming failed suicide attempts indicate a lack of intent to die is false. Many attempts fail due to external factors, not lack of intent. Suicidal behavior reflects complex neurobiological factors, including serotonin imbalance and prefrontal cortex deficits, requiring serious intervention regardless of outcome, as intent persists in high-risk individuals.

Choice D reason: A specific suicide plan indicates high risk, as it reflects advanced ideation and intent, often linked to prefrontal cortex dysfunction and reduced impulse control. Detailed planning suggests the client has visualized the act, increasing likelihood of completion. This principle guides nursing care to prioritize safety and immediate psychiatric intervention.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Derealization, a dissociative symptom in PTSD, involves feeling detached from reality, linked to altered prefrontal cortex and limbic system activity. Panic from a similar ICU case suggests a triggered memory, not detachment. Derealization is less likely, as the nurse’s response aligns with reliving a traumatic event, not perceptual distortion.

Choice B reason: Hyperarousal in PTSD involves heightened alertness and exaggerated startle, driven by amygdala hyperactivity and elevated norepinephrine. While panic suggests arousal, the trigger of a similar ICU case points to reliving a specific traumatic memory, making flashback more precise than general hyperarousal, which lacks the event-specific re-experiencing component.

Choice C reason: A flashback in PTSD involves reliving a traumatic event, triggered by cues like a similar ICU case, due to amygdala-driven memory reactivation and hippocampal dysfunction. The nurse’s panic reflects re-experiencing the parent’s death, a hallmark of PTSD, where sensory cues vividly recall trauma, causing intense emotional distress.

Choice D reason: Emotional numbing in PTSD involves reduced emotional responsiveness, linked to prefrontal cortex suppression. Panic from a similar ICU case indicates an active emotional response, not numbing. The nurse’s reaction aligns with re-experiencing trauma via a flashback, driven by amygdala activation, rather than emotional detachment.

A. A client who has a BUN of 18 mg/dL B. A client who has a fasting blood glucose of 80 mg/dL C. A client who has a potassium level of 3.6 mEq/L D. A client who has a sodium level of 128 mEq/L

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: A BUN of 18 mg/dL is within normal range (7–20 mg/dL) and does not indicate lithium toxicity. Lithium is renally excreted, and normal renal function, as reflected by BUN, suggests adequate clearance. Toxicity arises from sodium imbalances or dehydration, not directly from normal BUN levels, making this unremarkable.

Choice B reason: A fasting blood glucose of 80 mg/dL is normal (70–100 mg/dL) and unrelated to lithium toxicity. Lithium affects sodium and water balance, not glucose metabolism. Toxicity involves neurological symptoms from elevated serum lithium due to impaired renal clearance, not glycemic changes, so this value requires no further assessment.

Choice C reason: A potassium level of 3.6 mEq/L is within normal range (3.5–5.0 mEq/L) and does not indicate lithium toxicity. Lithium primarily affects sodium reabsorption in renal tubules, not potassium. Toxicity symptoms like tremors or confusion stem from sodium imbalances or high lithium levels, not normal potassium levels.

Choice D reason: A sodium level of 128 mEq/L (normal 135–145 mEq/L) indicates hyponatremia, increasing lithium toxicity risk. Lithium is reabsorbed in renal tubules like sodium; low sodium reduces lithium excretion, elevating serum levels, causing neurological symptoms like tremors or seizures. This requires immediate assessment to prevent toxicity.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

Which of the following principles should the nurse apply when planning nursing care for a client who was admitted after a suicide attempt?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is reviewing routine laboratory values for several clients who are taking lithium carbonate. Which of the following clients should the nurse assess further for findings indicating lithium toxicity?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Which nursing diagnosis should be most useful for clients with anxiety disorders for whom the following defining characteristics have been identified: avoidance, poor concentration, nightmares, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response, detachment, numbing, and flashbacks?

The nurse is caring for a client admitted with severe exacerbation of posttraumatic stress disorder that is experiencing flashbacks and hypervigilance. Which is the priority for the nurse to address when caring for this client?

All of the following are true about the etiology of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), except

Which of the following would indicate an increased suicidal risk? (Select all that apply)

A 68-year-old client who is hospitalized with pneumonia is disoriented and confused 3 days after admission. Which information indicates that the client is experiencing delirium rather than dementia?