A nurse wants to assess for suicidal ideation in an elderly ...

[burton19126]

A nurse wants to assess for suicidal ideation in an elderly patient. Select the best question to begin the assessment.
 
  a. What thoughts do you have about a person's right to take his or her life?
  b. Do you have any risk factors that potentially contribute to suicide?
  c. Do you think you are vulnerable to developing depressed mood?
  d. If you felt suicidal, would you tell someone about your feelings?

Question 2

Which assessment data would help the health care team distinguish symptoms of conversion from symptoms of hypochondriasis?
 
  a. Results of diagnostic testing
  b. Voluntary control of symptoms
  c. Patient's style of presentation
  d. The role of secondary gains

[catron30]

Answer to Question 1

A
This question is clear, direct, and respectful. It will produce information relative to the acceptability of suicide as an option to the patient. If the patient deems suicide unacceptable, no further assessment is necessary. If the patient deems suicide as acceptable, the nurse can continue to assess intent, plan, means to carry out the plan, lethality of the chosen method, and so forth. The other options are less direct and may produce responses that may be unclear.

Answer to Question 2

C
Patients with hypochondriasis tend to be more anxious about their concerns and display more obsessive attention to detail, whereas the patient with conversion often exhibits less concern with the symptom they are presenting than would be expected. Neither disorder involves voluntary control of the symptoms presented, and the results of diagnostic testing for both would be negative (i.e., no physiological basis would be found for the symptoms). Secondary gains can occur in both disorders but are not necessary to either.