A nurse is caring for a patient hospitalized with acute kidney injury (AKI). The healthcare provider has ordered daily weights and strict intake and output monitoring. The nurse notes that the patient has gained 3 pounds over the past 48 hours, with minimal urine output recorded during that time. What does this assessment finding most likely indicate?

Choice A reason: Legislation changing civil commitment procedures occurred later, notably in the 1960s–1970s, with deinstitutionalization movements. In the 1950s, institutional care was still prevalent, and legislative reforms were not the primary change in mental health treatment, making this option incorrect for that decade.

Choice B reason: Community support services expanded significantly during the 1960s with deinstitutionalization, not the 1950s. While some early community efforts existed, they were not the hallmark change of the 1950s, when institutional care dominated, and psychotropic drugs revolutionized treatment approaches for mental illness.

Choice C reason: The Patient’s Bill of Rights was formalized in the 1970s, not the 1950s. While patient advocacy began to emerge later, the 1950s focused primarily on medical advancements like psychotropic drugs, not legal frameworks for patient rights, making this option incorrect.

Choice D reason: In the 1950s, psychotropic drugs like chlorpromazine were introduced, revolutionizing mental health treatment. These medications effectively managed psychosis, reducing symptoms and enabling outpatient care, decreasing reliance on long-term institutionalization. This marked a significant shift in psychiatric care, making it the key change of the decade.

Choice A reason: A 201 status indicates voluntary admission to a mental health facility, where the client can request discharge by signing a withdrawal form, typically with a 72-hour notice period. This matches the client’s statement, as voluntary patients retain control over their discharge, consistent with mental health laws.

Choice B reason: A 303 status involves extended involuntary commitment for ongoing treatment, typically after a court hearing. It does not allow self-initiated discharge by signing a form, as the client’s statement suggests, making this status incompatible with the described ability to request withdrawal.

Choice C reason: A 302 status is an involuntary commitment for imminent danger, requiring medical or legal approval for discharge, not a simple request form. The client’s ability to sign for withdrawal indicates voluntary status, making 302 incorrect for this scenario.

Choice D reason: A 301 status is not a standard term in mental health commitment laws (e.g., Pennsylvania’s Mental Health Procedures Act). The client’s ability to request discharge aligns with voluntary (201) status, not an undefined or involuntary category, making this option incorrect.