While performing a routine assessment, a nurse notices fraying on the electrical cord of a client’s continuous passive motion (CPM) device.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

This is the priority question for the nurse to ask the client because it assesses the client’s risk for suicide, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication of conduct disorder. The nurse should use a direct and nonjudgmental approach when asking about suicidal ideation and plan.

Choice A is wrong because it is not the most urgent question to ask the client.

While it is important to assess the client’s social relationships and possible peer rejection, this can be done after addressing the client’s safety and mental status.

Choice B is wrong because it is not relevant to the client’s current condition and might make the client feel defensive or stigmatized.

The nurse should avoid asking questions that imply blame or judgment and focus on the client’s strengths and coping skills.

Choice D is wrong because it is not appropriate for the nurse to ask the client in an emergency department setting.

This question might imply that the client is responsible for their conduct disorder, which is a complex and multifactorial mental health condition. The nurse should collaborate with the client and their family to develop a behavior management plan that involves positive reinforcement, limit setting, and consistent consequences.

Normal ranges: According to the DSM-5, conduct disorder is characterized by a persistent pattern of behavior that violates the rights of others or societal norms.

The symptoms of conduct disorder include aggression, deceitfulness, destruction of property, serious rule violations, and lack of remorse.

Conduct disorder can cause significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning. The prevalence of conduct disorder is estimated to be 4% among children and adolescents.

The risk factors for conduct disorder include genetic factors, neurobiological factors, environmental factors, and psychological factors.

The client has signs of dehydration and oliguria, which are low urine output and dark yellow urine. A fluid bolus can help restore the fluid balance and improve the renal perfusion. The normal urine output for an adult is 0.5-1.5 mL/kg/hr, and the client’s urine output is only 25 mL/hr, which is below the minimum acceptable level. Dark yellow urine can indicate a high concentration of waste products and a low intake of fluids.

Choice B is wrong because continuous bladder irrigation is used to prevent or treat blood clots in the bladder after surgery or injury, not to increase urine output.

Choice C is wrong because a urine specimen for culture and sensitivity is used to diagnose a urinary tract infection, which is not the most likely cause of the client’s low urine output.

The client does not have other symptoms of infection, such as fever, pain, or cloudy urine.

Choice D is wrong because clamping the catheter tubing for 30 min can cause urinary retention, bladder distension, and increased risk of infection.

It can also interfere with the accurate measurement of urine output.