A client with depression is admitted for voluntary treatment. While in the hospital, the client makes several comments about leaving the facility and kiling themselves with their gun. Which is the most appropriate action by the nurse when the client requests to leave against medical advice?
Call security and ask them to detain the client from leaving.
Contact the client's family to request they convince the client to stay.
Allow the client to leave, with a referral to community resources for follow-up care.
Contact the psychiatrist for initiation of commitment proceedings.
The Correct Answer is D
In this situation, the client's safety is of utmost importance. Expressing a desire to leave the facility and harm oneself with a gun raises serious concerns about the client's safety and the risk of harm to themselves. Initiating commitment proceedings, also known as involuntary hospitalization or psychiatric hold, allows the facility to legally detain the client temporarily for their protection and evaluation by mental health professionals. This allows for a thorough assessment of the client's mental health status and the formulation of a comprehensive treatment plan to ensure their safety.
Options A, B, and C are not appropriate in this situation:
A. Calling security to detain the client may escalate the situation and could potentially lead to increased risk of harm.
B. Contacting the client's family may not be enough to ensure the client's safety, and it is essential to involve mental health professionals in evaluating the client's risk.
C. Allowing the client to leave without addressing their expressed suicidal ideation is not safe, as the client may be at high risk for self-harm or suicide. Simply referring them to community resources without further evaluation and intervention is not sufficient to address the immediate safety concern.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Anticipatory grief refers to the emotional response and mourning that occurs before an actual loss or death. In this case, the client is grieving the loss of the pregnancy due to the decision to have an elective abortion. The grief arises from the anticipation of not being able to have the child at this time, even though they may want to have children in the future.
B- Disenfranchised grief: Disenfranchised grief refers to a type of grief that is not openly acknowledged or socially validated. It occurs when a person experiences a loss that is not commonly recognized or is not socially accepted. In this case, the client's grief is not disenfranchised because the loss of an unintended pregnancy through elective abortion is openly acknowledged and socially accepted.
C- Complicated grief: Complicated grief, also known as prolonged grief or unresolved grief, occurs when a person experiences intense, prolonged, or incapacitating grief that doesn't seem to improve over time. It can be a result of traumatic loss or when the person has difficulty accepting the reality of the loss. The client's grief over the elective abortion does not necessarily indicate complicated grief since it is a normal response to the loss of the pregnancy.
D- Absence of grief: Absence of grief would mean that the client is not experiencing any emotional response or sorrow after the elective abortion, which is unlikely in this situation. The client is crying and expressing emotions, indicating the presence of grief.
In summary, the most appropriate choice for the client's experience is "Anticipatory grief" since the client is grieving the loss of the pregnancy before it actually occurred due to the timing of the pregnancy not aligning with their plans.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Explanation: The priority question the nurse should ask the client during the initial assessment is whether they feel safe in their home (Option B). This question is essential because it addresses the client's safety and well-being, particularly regarding the possibility of domestic violence or intimate partner violence.
Assessing for safety is a critical component of the initial assessment, especially for female clients, as they may be at higher risk for experiencing domestic violence or abuse. By asking about the client's safety in their home, the nurse can identify potential issues related to violence or unsafe living conditions and take appropriate actions to ensure the client's safety.
Options A, C, and D are also important assessment questions, but they are not the priority in this scenario:
A. "Do you have enough money to pay for your care today?" - This is an important question regarding the client's financial situation and ability to access healthcare. However, safety and well-being take precedence over financial concerns in the initial assessment.
C. "Do you take illegal street drugs?" - This question is crucial for assessing the client's substance use and potential risk factors related to drug use. However, the safety question (Option B) is more immediate and directly addresses the client's well-being.
D. "Do you obtain regular medical care?" - This question is vital for assessing the client's healthcare needs and access to healthcare services. However, the safety question (Option B) should be addressed first to ensure the client's immediate safety and well-being.
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