A mental health nurse is assessing the suicide risk of a group of clients on a mental health unit. Which of the following clients should the nurse identify as having a risk factor for a suicide attempt?

Choice A rationale: The nurse should ask the client to agree to talk to a nurse whenever she feels the urge to exercise. This is because the client with anorexia nervosa who overexercises is using exercise as a means to control her weight and shape, which is a characteristic of this disorder. By asking the client to talk to a nurse when she feels the urge to exercise, the nurse is providing a safe and supportive environment for the client to express her feelings and fears related to her body image and weight. This intervention also helps the client to develop healthier coping mechanisms and reduces the risk of physical harm due to excessive exercise.

Choice B rationale: Praise the client for looking at herself in a mirror may not be the most effective nursing action. While it’s important to encourage positive body image, simply praising the client for looking at herself in a mirror may not address the underlying issues related to her body dissatisfaction and fear of weight gain. It’s crucial to understand that anorexia nervosa is not just about body image, but also about control, perfectionism, and fear of maturity. Therefore, interventions should be comprehensive and target all aspects of the disorder.

Choice C rationale: Restricting the client from being weighed may not be beneficial. While it’s true that clients with anorexia nervosa can become obsessed with their weight, weighing is a necessary part of monitoring their health status. Instead of restricting the client from being weighed, the nurse should provide education about the importance of regular weight checks and involve the client in the process. This can help to reduce anxiety and promote a sense of control.

Choice D rationale: Reprimanding the client about the potential damage that has occurred due to overexercising her body is not therapeutic. It’s important to remember that clients with anorexia nervosa are often in denial about the seriousness of their condition. Therefore, reprimanding or confronting the client may lead to resistance and defensiveness. Instead, the nurse should use a supportive and understanding approach, providing education about the risks of excessive exercise and the benefits of a balanced lifestyle.

Choice A rationale: The statement “My arms often feel weak and spastic” does not indicate obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This could be a symptom of a physical condition or a different mental health disorder, but it does not align with the common symptoms of OCD. OCD is characterized by unwanted, recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviors.

Choice B rationale: The statement “I check where my car keys are ten times” is indicative of OCD. One of the key symptoms of OCD is the need to check things repeatedly due to persistent, unwanted thoughts and fears. The individual may check something over and over again, such as whether the door is locked or where their car keys are, even if they know they’ve already checked. This behavior is a compulsion - an act the person feels compelled to perform to alleviate the distress caused by the obsessive thought.

Choice C rationale: The statement “I’m embarrassed to go out and speak in public” could be indicative of social anxiety disorder, not OCD. Social anxiety disorder is characterized by a fear of social situations and interactions, particularly those involving the possibility of scrutiny or judgment by others. While people with OCD can also have social anxiety disorder, embarrassment about going out and speaking in public is not a typical symptom of OCD12.

Choice D rationale: The statement “I keep reliving a car accident almost every day” is more indicative of post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than OCD. PTSD is a mental health disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a car accident. Symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event. While people with OCD can have intrusive thoughts, these thoughts are typically related to themes like contamination or orderliness, rather than reliving past traumas.