A nurse in the Emergency Department is caring for a client with symptoms of depression and admits to thoughts of self-harm with a plan. The client has a history of borderline personality disorder, depression, and substance abuse. Which of the following is the priority action by the nurse?

The correct answer is Choice A: Give positive feedback when the client is assertive with staff or clients.

Choice A rationale: Clients with dependent personality disorder exhibit a pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior. They often struggle with making decisions, expressing their opinions, and engaging in assertive communication. By providing positive feedback when the client exhibits assertive behavior, the nurse reinforces adaptive coping strategies and encourages the development of healthy interpersonal interactions. This approach fosters independence, self-confidence, and autonomy, ultimately promoting a better quality of life for the client.

Choice B rationale: Although setting limits is crucial in managing manipulative behaviors, it is not the primary focus for clients with dependent personality disorder. These clients tend to prioritize pleasing others and avoiding conflict over exploiting or manipulating other individuals. Instead, nurses should emphasize supportive interventions that foster self-reliance and assertiveness.

Choice C rationale: Close monitoring to prevent self-mutilation is not typically associated with the management of dependent personality disorder. This intervention is more relevant for clients with borderline personality disorder or those with a history of self-harm behaviors. Clients with dependent personality disorder may exhibit passive and avoidant behaviors but are less likely to engage in acts of self-mutilation.

Choice D rationale: Discouraging flamboyant or seductive behaviors is an intervention more suited for clients with histrionic personality disorder, not dependent personality disorder. Histrionic personality disorder is characterized by excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behaviors, whereas dependent personality disorder primarily involves a lack of self-confidence and excessive reliance on others for decision-making and emotional support.

Choice A rationale:

Other than possible coordination problems, the client's psychomotor skills are not affected. Severe Intellectual Disability (ID) is characterized by significant limitations in intellectual functioning as well as adaptive behaviors. Coordination problems are not a primary characteristic of severe ID. The main focus is on cognitive and adaptive deficits.

Choice B rationale:

The client communicates wants and needs by "acting out behaviors." Severe ID can lead to challenges in effective communication. "Acting out behaviors" such as tantrums, aggression, or other disruptive actions might be the client's way of expressing themselves when they are unable to communicate verbally or effectively due to their cognitive limitations.

Choice C rationale:

The client can perform some self-care activities independently. Severe ID typically involves significant impairments in adaptive functioning, which includes self-care activities. The ability to perform some self-care activities independently is not consistent with the characteristics of severe ID.

Choice D rationale:

The client has advanced speech development. Severe ID is associated with delayed or impaired speech and language development. Advanced speech development would be contradictory to the diagnosis of severe ID, as this condition is characterized by substantial limitations in communication skills.