A nurse is caring for an older adult client admitted to the hospital following a cerebrovascular accident. The client's daughter tells the nurse, "I wish I could stay with my father, but I need to go home to my family." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

When a client is involuntarily admitted to a mental health unit, there is typically a specific time frame, such as 72 hours, during which they can be held involuntarily for evaluation and
treatment. At the end of this initial hold period, further determination is required to determine if continued hospitalization is necessary.
The primary consideration for extending the client's stay is whether they continue to pose a danger to themselves or others. This determination is based on a comprehensive assessment of the client's mental state, behavior, and potential for harm. If the client still exhibits signs of being a threat to themselves or others, the healthcare team may decide to continue their hospitalization to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
The other options listed are not the primary criteria for determining the need for continued hospitalization:
● Whether the client is unwilling to accept that treatment is needed: While the client's willingness to accept treatment is an important factor, it is not the sole determinant for extending their stay. Even if the client recognizes the need for treatment, if they are still a danger to themselves or others, their hospitalization may be prolonged.
● Whether the client is financially incapable of paying for prescribed medications: Financial considerations do not directly impact the decision to extend the client's stay. The focus is on their safety and the need for continued psychiatric assessment and treatment.
● Whether the client is unable to make arrangements to stay with someone: The client's living arrangements or ability to stay with someone outside of the hospital are not the main factors in determining the need for extended hospitalization. The key consideration is whether the client continues to pose a danger to themselves or others.

The appropriate response by the nurse in this situation is to set clear boundaries and remove themselves from the situation. By stating, "I'm going to leave now and I'll return in one hour to spend time with you then," the nurse establishes that the inappropriate behavior is not acceptable and that they will return later to continue providing care within professional boundaries.

A- "I'm sure that you don't intend to behave this way, so I'm going to ignore this behavior" is not an appropriate response. Ignoring the behavior can potentially enable or encourage further inappropriate advances, and it does not address the issue directly.

B- "I'm curious as to why you are behaving this way. Can you please explain it to me?" places the responsibility on the client to explain their behavior, which is not appropriate or necessary in this situation. It may also encourage further discussion of the inappropriate behavior.

C- "I'm very flattered, but I am married and cannot engage in this behavior" personalizes the situation and may give the wrong impression that the nurse's marital status is the reason for rejecting the advances. It is important to maintain professional boundaries and not involve personal factors in the response.