A school nurse is speaking to the mother of a 16-year-old male adolescent. The mother has concerns about her son. Which of the following statements by the mother should indicate to the nurse that the adolescent is at risk for suicide?
"His cousin committed suicide a few weeks ago.”
"He spends much of his time with his two school friends.”
"He has slept 9 hours each night for the past 2 years.”
"He is very religious and attends services twice a week.”
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
"His cousin committed suicide a few weeks ago." This statement is a significant red flag indicating a higher risk of suicide. When an adolescent is exposed to suicide, especially within their family or close social circle, they become more vulnerable due to the potential for social contagion. This scenario increases the urgency for intervention and support to prevent a similar outcome.
Choice B rationale:
"He spends much of his time with his two school friends." While changes in social behavior might raise concerns, this statement alone does not directly indicate a risk of suicide. Adolescents can experience shifts in their social preferences for various reasons, and it's not a definitive sign of suicidal ideation or intent.
Choice C rationale:
"He has slept 9 hours each night for the past 2 years." Sleeping patterns alone do not strongly correlate with suicide risk. However, drastic changes in sleep patterns, such as insomnia or hypersomnia, might be indicative of underlying mental health issues. In this case, the consistent sleep pattern mentioned does not directly signal a risk of suicide.
Choice D rationale:
"He is very religious and attends services twice a week." Religious involvement can have protective effects on mental health, and attending religious services can provide a support network. While religion might offer some resilience against suicide, it is not a definitive indicator. Other factors need to be considered in conjunction with religious activities. For , the statement indicating an adolescent's higher risk of suicide is "His cousin committed suicide a few weeks ago" (Choice A). This experience increases the risk due to the potential for social contagion. The other options, including spending time with school friends, sleep patterns, and religious involvement, do not directly suggest an imminent risk of suicide.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
The client taking an overdose of the medication is unlikely to be the cause of the symptoms. Disulfiram (Antabuse) is a medication used to treat alcohol dependence by causing adverse effects when alcohol is consumed. However, an overdose would not result in severe nausea and vomiting as described.
Choice B rationale:
Experiencing common side effects of the medication is a possibility, but severe nausea and vomiting are not typical side effects of disulfiram. The medication's primary purpose is to induce unpleasant effects when alcohol is consumed, not to cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
Choice C rationale:
Demonstrating an allergic response to the medication could potentially cause various symptoms, but severe nausea and vomiting are not commonly associated with allergies to disulfiram. Allergic reactions often manifest as skin rashes, itching, and respiratory symptoms, which are not described in this scenario.
Choice D rationale:
The correct choice. Disulfiram works by inhibiting alcohol metabolism, leading to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, a toxic substance, when alcohol is consumed. This buildup of acetaldehyde results in unpleasant symptoms like severe nausea, vomiting, headache, and flushing. Since the client has recently started taking disulfiram and reports experiencing severe nausea and vomiting after discontinuing the medication, it is most likely that the client consumed alcohol while taking the medication, triggering the adverse reaction.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Joining a bowling league 2 months ago indicates that the client is actively seeking social interactions and engaging in activities. While grief can manifest in various ways, joining a social activity does not necessarily indicate maladaptive grief. It's important for individuals to find ways to connect with others and continue living their lives after the loss of a loved one.
Choice B rationale:
Meeting his daughter for dinner every week demonstrates ongoing communication and emotional connection with family. This behavior suggests a healthy attempt at maintaining relationships and coping with the loss. Regular interactions with family members can be supportive during the grieving process.
Choice C rationale:
Keeping his partner's closet untouched since her death is a sign of maladaptive grief. This behavior suggests an inability to let go of personal belongings and move forward after a significant period of time. In healthy grieving, individuals usually work through their emotions and gradually start reorganizing their living spaces and personal items.
Choice D rationale:
Exercising at a local health facility 3 days each week indicates that the client is engaging in self-care and maintaining physical health. While exercise can be a coping mechanism, this behavior alone does not provide enough evidence to determine whether the client is experiencing maladaptive grief.
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