A nurse is caring for a client who attacked one of her friends and is admitted to the psychiatric unit. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A. "Are you thinking of harming yourself?": Correct

This is the priority response because it directly addresses the client's statement about being better off gone, which raises concerns about potential suicidal thoughts. Asking this question allows the nurse to assess the client's risk of self-harm or suicide and take appropriate actions to ensure their safety.

B. "Do you really think your family would be better off without you?": Incorrect

While this response attempts to engage the client in a conversation, it doesn't directly address the immediate concern of suicidal thoughts. It's important to prioritize assessing the client's safety before exploring their feelings about their family's perspective.

C. "When did you first start feeling this way?": Incorrect

While understanding the client's history and the onset of their feelings is important, it's not the priority response in this situation. Assessing the client's risk of harm takes precedence over gathering historical information.

D. "Tell me what is happening right now.": Incorrect

This response doesn't directly address the client's statement about being better off gone and doesn't assess the immediate risk of self-harm or suicide. While understanding the client's current situation is valuable, safety concerns should be addressed first.

A. "I need to make sure that the potential victim is warned."

Explanation: Correct Answer. When a client threatens to harm a specific individual, it's important to take steps to ensure the safety of both the client and the potential victim. Warning the potential victim or taking appropriate measures to protect them is an important action to take.

B. "I need to keep the information confidential due to the client's right to privacy."

Explanation: While respecting a client's right to privacy is important, when there's a threat of harm to an individual, it becomes a matter of safety that takes precedence over confidentiality.

C. "I can only discuss the client's threats with a court order."

Explanation: This statement is incorrect. When there's a credible threat to harm an individual, waiting for a court order is not an appropriate or timely response. Immediate actions should be taken to ensure safety.

D. "I should verbally report this information to the psychiatrist."

Explanation: While involving the psychiatrist is important for the client's overall care, it's essential to take more immediate steps to ensure the safety of the potential victim, such as notifying the appropriate authorities or taking appropriate precautions.