A nurse is discussing advancing interprofessional communication on the unit. Which of the following should the nurse identify as a barrier to this advancement?

Choice A reason: This statement is incorrect because psychiatric history is not the most urgent assessment to make for a client who reports feeling depressed and anxious. Psychiatric history can provide valuable information about the client's diagnosis, treatment, and response, but it is not a priority over the client's safety and wellbeing.
Choice B reason: This statement is correct because suicide risk is the most urgent assessment to make for a client who reports feeling depressed and anxious. Suicide risk can indicate the client's level of hopelessness, despair, and intent to harm themselves. The nurse should assess the client's suicidal thoughts, plans, means, and access, and implement appropriate interventions to prevent self harm or suicide.
Choice C reason: This statement is incorrect because support systems are not the most urgent assessment to make for a client who reports feeling depressed and anxious. Support systems can provide emotional, social, and practical assistance to the client, but they are not a priority over the client's safety and wellbeing.
Choice D reason: This statement is incorrect because coping abilities are not the most urgent assessment to make for a client who reports feeling depressed and anxious. Coping abilities can reflect the client's strategies and skills to manage their stress and emotions, but they are not a priority over the client's safety and wellbeing.

Choice A reason: This statement is true and should be included in the educational session. SDOH are the nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes, such as income, education, housing, food security, social inclusion, and access to health services. SDOH can affect a person's physical, mental, and social wellbeing, as well as their risk of developing certain diseases.

Choice B reason: This statement is false and should not be included in the educational session. SDOH are not determined by an individual’s ethnic background, but rather by the broader social, economic, and political context in which they live. However, ethnic background can influence how a person experiences SDOH, as some ethnic groups may face discrimination, racism, and marginalization that affect their access to resources and opportunities.

Choice C reason: This statement is false and should not be included in the educational session. Identifying SDOH does not increase disparities in health care, but rather helps to address them. Disparities in health care are the differences in the quality and accessibility of health services among different populations⁵. Identifying SDOH can help to understand the root causes of these disparities, and to design interventions that target the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

Choice D reason: This statement is false and should not be included in the educational session. SDOH do not include psychological factors, but rather affect them. Psychological factors are the individual characteristics and behaviors that influence a person's mental health and wellbeing, such as personality, coping skills, self-esteem, and stress management. SDOH can influence psychological factors by creating stressful or supportive environments, and by facilitating or hindering access to mental health services.