Author Question: A suicidal patient tells the nurse, There's no other way out for me. I have so many prob-lems that ... (Read 41 times)

Davideckstein7 · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

A suicidal patient tells the nurse, There's no other way out for me. I have so many prob-lems that there's nothing to do but cash it in. Which statement by the nurse would be a helpful approach?

a. I can see that things are bad. It's good you recognized your limitations.
b. Let's look at the problem you consider most urgent to see about a solution.
c. We'll begin problem-solving together as soon as you stop feeling suicidal.
d. Your thinking is flawed. I'll teach you to think differently and be less de-pressed.

Question 2

A newly admitted patient with depression has been determined as suicidal and in need of one-to-one supervision. What is the best statement to inform the patient of the plan of care?

a. A staff member will be with you at all times to watch you for suicide gestures.
b. On this unit, a staff member stays with each new admission for the first 24 hours.
c. We understand the impulse to attempt self-harm may be strong, so someone will stay with you to help you control the impulse.
d. We are not sure you would be willing to tell a staff member if the urge to com-mit suicide becomes strong, so to prevent hospital liability someone will stay with you.

trampas · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
The most effective intervention is to help the patient prioritize problems and work on them one at a time. To affirm the negative is not therapeutic. Although a change in thinking is ap-propriate, it does not deal with the patient's statement about problems. The remaining option places unrealistic demands on the patient.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
The correct option explains the intervention in terms of the patient's needs. Basing the inter-vention on the patient's suicidal gestures is too threatening and intrusive. It is not true that all patients are observed for 24 hours. Identifying liability indicates that the staff is mostly wor-ried about the hospital.