A nurse is assigned to care for several clients on a mental health unit. One of the clients who has suicidal ideation starts to verbalize clear intent to self harm. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Request the client’s caregivers to remain with the client.
Notify the supervisor that the client requires one to one nursing observation
Assign the client to, a private room.
Increase the frequency of client assessment to hourly.
The Correct Answer is B
A) "Request the client’s caregivers to remain with the client.": While having caregivers present can provide some emotional support, this is not a sufficient or appropriate intervention when a client is actively expressing intent to self-harm. Caregivers may not be trained to recognize subtle changes in the client’s condition, and they might not be able to provide the level of safety required. It is essential that a trained nurse or professional provides direct observation.
B) "Notify the supervisor that the client requires one-to-one nursing observation.": This is the most appropriate and immediate action when a client verbalizes a clear intent to self-harm. One-to-one nursing observation ensures that the client is under constant surveillance, which is crucial for preventing harm and providing immediate intervention if the client attempts to act on their suicidal thoughts.
C) "Assign the client to a private room.": Assigning the client to a private room is not a recommended action when the client is expressing intent to self-harm. In fact, isolation in a private room could increase the risk of harm. The priority is to ensure the client is closely monitored, and being placed in a private room may reduce the ability for staff to observe and intervene as needed.
D) "Increase the frequency of client assessment to hourly.": While increasing the frequency of assessments is important, it is not sufficient to prevent self-harm in a client who is at immediate risk. The client needs continuous observation to ensure their safety. One-to-one nursing observation is more effective than periodic assessments for clients with active suicidal ideation or intent.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A) Inject 15 units of air into the regular insulin vial:
When drawing insulin from both NPH (a long-acting insulin) and regular insulin (a short-acting insulin), the nurse should first inject air into the NPH insulin vial (which is the intermediate-acting insulin) and then inject air into the regular insulin vial. This technique helps to prevent contamination of the regular insulin vial with NPH insulin. After injecting air into the regular insulin vial, the nurse would then withdraw the regular insulin first and then the NPH insulin to avoid contamination of the regular insulin with the NPH insulin.
B) Withdraw 10 units of NPH insulin:
This action is premature, as the nurse has not yet injected air into the regular insulin vial. The correct sequence involves injecting air into both vials before withdrawing any insulin. Therefore, withdrawing NPH insulin at this stage is not the correct next step.
C) Verify the dosage with another nurse:
While verifying the insulin dosage with another nurse is a good practice for ensuring medication safety, this action is not the immediate next step after injecting air into the NPH insulin vial. The priority is to follow the correct sequence of air injection into the vials before withdrawing the insulin. Verification can occur after the insulin is drawn.
D) Place the cap over the needle:
Placing the cap over the needle is a safety step that is generally performed after withdrawing the insulin and preparing the injection. However, this is not the next step in the process of mixing or drawing insulin, so it is not the correct action to take at this point.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A) Beefy, red tongue: The beefy, red tongue is typically associated with scarlet fever, a bacterial infection caused by group A Streptococcus. This condition can lead to a red, "strawberry" tongue, often accompanied by a rash. While measles can involve a variety of symptoms, including a red rash, conjunctivitis, and cough, the beefy red tongue is not characteristic of measles. In measles, the more notable symptoms are a high fever, cough, runny nose, and the development of Koplik spots inside the mouth.
B) Paroxysmal cough: Paroxysmal cough, which is a sudden, severe, and uncontrollable cough often followed by a "whooping" sound, is more characteristic of pertussis (whooping cough). While a cough is indeed present with measles, it is generally not paroxysmal. In measles, the cough is more persistent and associated with other typical symptoms such as fever and a characteristic rash. The coughing in measles may also be dry and harsh but does not tend to occur in violent, paroxysmal episodes like those seen in pertussis.
C) Peeling of the hands and feet: Peeling of the skin, particularly of the hands and feet, is more commonly observed in conditions such as scarlet fever, Kawasaki disease, or after a viral infection like hand-foot-and-mouth disease. It is not a classic finding of measles. In measles, the skin rash usually starts as maculopapular spots on the face and spreads down the body. While some skin sloughing can occur after the rash resolves, especially in severe cases, it is not the characteristic sign of measles, and it is not typically seen on the hands and feet.
D) Fever: Fever is one of the earliest and most prominent symptoms of measles. It typically appears about 2-4 days before the characteristic measles rash. The fever in measles can be quite high, often exceeding 104°F (40°C), and is associated with other symptoms such as cough, conjunctivitis, and photophobia. The fever usually persists for several days, and it is one of the critical signs that lead to the diagnosis of measles, particularly when combined with the characteristic rash and other respiratory symptoms.
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