Author Question: As a nurse in the emergency department, you are caring for a patient who is exhibiting signs of ... (Read 81 times)

Marty · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

As a nurse in the emergency department, you are caring for a patient who is exhibiting signs of depression. What is a priority nursing intervention you should perform for this patient?

a. Assess for depression and ask directly about suicide thoughts.
b. Ask the care provider to prescribe blood lab work to assess for depression.
c. Focus on the presenting problems and refer the patient for a mental health evaluation.
d. Interview the patient's family to identify their concerns about the patient's behaviors.

Question 2

The nurse is assessing the coping patterns of a newly admitted patient. What will the nurse include in this assessment? (Select all that apply.)

a. Current stressors as perceived by the patient
b. Use of drugs or alcohol
c. Recent weight changes
d. Age and height
e. Temperature

fraziera112 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Assessing directly for thoughts of harm to self or others is a priority intervention for any patient exhibiting signs of a mental health disorder. It is estimated that 50 of individuals who succeed in suicide had visited a health care provider within the previous 24 hours. Currently there is no serum lab that identifies depression. The risk of self-harm is a priority safety issue that is monitored in all health care within the scope of the nurse. It is important to obtain information directly from the patient when possible, and then validate the information from family or other secondary sources.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A, B, C
Stressors are subjective based on patient perception and assessment of stressors as part of a patient history. Stressors trigger coping behaviors that can include negative uses of drugs and alcohol and appetite changes that affect weight. Age, height, and temperature are not typically altered with coping, although pulse, respiratory rate, and blood pressure may be affected.