A young adult client with a recent diagnosis of bipolar disorder takes lithium carbonate daily. The client informed the school nurse of the desire to live away from home to attend college after graduating in one month. Which information is most important for the nurse to provide the client and his family?
The client should be aware of the signs and symptoms of his illness.
The client should plan to participate in group or individual therapy while at college.
Despite the illness, the client should be able to live away from home.
The client's serum lithium levels should be routinely evaluated.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A rationale:
While it's important for the client to be aware of the signs and symptoms of their illness, medication monitoring is a more immediate concern.
Choice B rationale:
Participating in therapy can be beneficial, but it's not the most critical information to provide in this context.
Choice C rationale:
Living away from home is possible for many individuals with bipolar disorder, but medication management is a higher priority.
Choice D rationale:
Routine monitoring of serum lithium levels is crucial to ensure therapeutic levels and prevent lithium toxicity in individuals taking lithium carbonate for bipolar disorder.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["B","D","E"]
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Restricting visitors to family members only may not necessarily be a beneficial intervention and could potentially isolate the client further, which may not be in their best interest.
Choice B rationale:
Discussing the client's suicide plan is essential to assess the level of risk and develop strategies to keep the client safe. It allows the healthcare team to understand the severity of the client's depressive symptoms and potential suicidal ideation.
Choice C rationale:
Limiting the time allowed to play video games may be a consideration in a broader plan of care, but it is not a primary intervention for addressing depression in adolescents. The focus should be on safety, communication, and building a therapeutic relationship.
Choice D rationale:
Encouraging the client to discuss thoughts and feelings about wanting to die is crucial for therapeutic communication and assessment. It provides an opportunity for the client to express their emotions and allows for intervention and support.
Choice E rationale:
Reinforcing statements regarding a will to live and realistic plans for the future is important for building hope and motivation in the client. It can be part of a positive, strengths-based approach to treatment.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Encouraging the mother to write her thoughts and feelings in a journal is a constructive and therapeutic response. It provides an outlet for the mother to express her emotions and can be a helpful tool for coping with the challenges she is facing.
Choice B rationale:
Determining if the mother has other children who do not have developmental disabilities may be relevant to understanding her support system and family dynamics, but it does not directly address her current emotional distress.
Choice C rationale:
Reassuring the mother that her child will achieve some growth and development milestones may not be appropriate in this situation, as the child's disabilities are described as profound, and it is uncertain what milestones the child will reach. Providing false hope may not be helpful and could be misleading.
Choice D rationale:
Asking the mother if she has ever thought about harming herself or her child is an important inquiry related to her emotional state and the potential risk of harm. However, it should follow the initial response of encouraging her to express her thoughts and feelings in a journal.
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