A nurse is assisting with the admission of a client to an acute mental health unit following a suicide attempt. The client has a history of depression, substance abuse, and anorexia nervosa. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Initiate one-to-one nursing observation.
Make a contract with the client for weight gain.
Administer the Hamilton depression scale.
Review the client's toxicology laboratory report.
The Correct Answer is A
initiate one-to-one nursing observation, as this is the most urgent intervention to ensure the safety of the client. The client has a history of depression, substance abuse, anorexia nervosa, and attempted suicide, which indicates that they are at high risk for harm to themselves. One-to-one observation involves an assigned staff member who will be with the client at all times, ensuring their safety and preventing any further self-harm attempts.
Choice B, making a contract with the client for weight gain, is not an appropriate first action as it does not address the client's immediate safety concerns.
Choice C, administering the Hamilton depression scale, may be important to assess the client's depressive symptoms but is not the most urgent priority.
Choice D, reviewing the client's toxicology laboratory report, may be necessary for the overall assessment of the client, but safety comes first.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["A","B","C","E"]
Explanation
The elderly tend to heal more slowly which can delay wound healing and increase the risk of infection. The elderly person has a greater proportion of body surface area per amount of body mass which increases the amount of skin available for injury, and thus the severity of the burn. The elderly person has less physiological reserves which makes it more difficult for the body to respond to injury and stress. Elderly patients have comorbidities such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease that can impair the body's ability to heal and increase the risk of complications. Elderly patients do not typically have thicker skin as it thins with age.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Sertraline is a medication used to treat depression and other mental health conditions that can cause unwanted side effects. Excessive sweating and muscle twitching are potential side effects that should be immediately reported to the healthcare provider. A dry cough is a common side effect of other medications and not specific to sertraline.
Decreasing sodium intake is not necessarily related to the medication, and harmless, temporary changes in the ability to taste and smell are not significant enough to warrant special mention.
Choice B, "This medication can cause a dry cough," is a potential side effect of other medications and may cause confusion as to what medication the client is taking.
Choice C, "I need to decrease my sodium intake while on this medication," is not likely a statement related to sertraline but to other medications or medical conditions.
Choice D, "This medication can cause harmless, temporary changes to my ability to taste and smell," while accurate, is not the most critical information for the client to know about and may cause confusion as to what the client should report to the provider.
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