A client is admitted to a psychiatric unit with severe depression and thoughts of suicide. The client is placed on suicide precautions. When caring for this client, the nurse recognizes that
a. people who talk about harming themselves are at less risk.
b. clients who verbalize or behaviorally demonstrate "a weight being lifted off the shoulders" are no longer at risk.
c. once the acute crisis has subsided, the client is no longer at risk.
d. a major goal in evaluating suicidal risk is to assess for imminent danger of doing harm to self.
ANS: D
A major goal in evaluating suicidal risk is to assess whether the client is imminent danger of doing harm to self. It is a myth that people who talk about harming themselves are at less risk. Clients who verbalize or behaviorally demonstrate "a weight being lifted off the shoulders" should be watched carefully. Suicidal ideation waxes and wanes, so careful observation is critical even after the acute crisis has subsided.
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