Which of the following questions by a depressed, inpatient, ...

[tfester]

Which of the following questions by a depressed, inpatient, psychiatricmental health client should the nurse interpret as a potential suicide clue?
 
  A) Are patients allowed to keep drugstore medications at their bedside?
  B) When is my next schedule ECT session?
  C) When do you think the doctor will let me get my street clothes back?
  D) Are we allowed to use the patient kitchen whenever we want?

Question 2

In a therapy session, a client with a diagnosis of major depression admits to the nursetherapist, I actually went out driving on the interstate this morning and had every intention of getting up to speed and plowing right into the overpass by my exit.
 
  Maybe tomorrow. The nurse would recognize the client's statement as what?
 
  A) Suicidal ideation
  B) Suicidal intent
  C) Suicidal gesture
  D) Suicidal threat

[Jmfn03]

Answer to Question 1

Ans: A
Asking whether medications can be kept at the bedside is a suspicious question if a client is depressed and may precede an attempted overdose. The other questions are not necessarily suggestive of suicidal ideation.

Answer to Question 2

Ans: B
The specificity and concreteness of the client's plan indicates suicidal intent. Suicidal ideations, threats, and gestures are typically more vague and less rooted in time and place.

[tfester]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[Liddy]

Excellent