A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about caring for clients in the emergency department.

Which of the following actions should the nurse include when teaching about interacting with a client who is aggravated, pacing, and speaking loudly?

The correct answer is choice C: “Do you have thoughts of harming yourself?”.

This is the priority question for the nurse to ask the client because it assesses the client’s risk for suicide, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication of conduct disorder. The nurse should use a direct and nonjudgmental approach when asking about suicidal ideation and plan.

Choice A: “How do you get along with your peers at school?” is wrong because it is not the most urgent question to ask the client.

While it is important to assess the client’s social relationships and possible peer rejection, this can be done after addressing the client’s safety and mental status.

Choice B: “Do you have a criminal record?” is wrong because it is not relevant to the client’s current condition and might make the client feel defensive or stigmatized.

The nurse should avoid asking questions that imply blame or judgment and focus on the client’s strengths and coping skills.

Choice D: “How do you manage your behavior?” is wrong because it is not appropriate for the nurse to ask the client in an emergency department setting.

This question might imply that the client is responsible for their conduct disorder, which is a complex and multifactorial mental health condition. The nurse should collaborate with the client and their family to develop a behavior management plan that involves positive reinforcement, limit setting, and consistent consequences.

Normal ranges: According to the DSM-5, conduct disorder is characterized by a persistent pattern of behavior that violates the rights of others or societal norms.

The symptoms of conduct disorder include aggression, deceitfulness, destruction of property, serious rule violations, and lack of remorse.

Conduct disorder can cause significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning. The prevalence of conduct disorder is estimated to be 4% among children and adolescents.

The risk factors for conduct disorder include genetic factors, neurobiological factors, environmental factors, and psychological factors.

B) I can visit my nephew who has chickenpox 5 days after the sores have crusted.

This statement indicates an understanding of infection prevention because it demonstrates knowledge about the contagious period of chickenpox. Visiting someone with chickenpox after the sores have crusted is a safe practice, as the person is no longer contagious.

The other options represent misconceptions about infection prevention:

A) Taking antibiotics for a viral infection is not effective, as antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, not viruses.

C) This statement is identical to option B and is incorrect.

D) Cleaning a cat's litter box during pregnancy is generally not recommended due to the risk of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can be transmitted through cat feces. Pregnant individuals are advised to have someone else handle cat litter or to use gloves and wash their hands thoroughly if they must do it themselves.