A community psychiatric nurse assesses that a patient with a mood disorder is more depressed than on the previous visit a month ago; however, the patient says, "I feel the same."
Which intervention supports the nurse's assessment while preserving the patient's autonomy?
a. Arrange for a short hospitalization.
b. Schedule weekly clinic appointments.
c. Refer the patient to the crisis intervention clinic.
d. Call the family and ask them to observe the patient closely.
ANS: B
Scheduling clinic appointments at shorter intervals will give the opportunity for more frequent assessment of symptoms and allow the nurse to use early intervention. If the patient does not admit to having a crisis or problem, this referral would be useless. The remaining options may produce unreliable information, violate the patient's privacy, and waste scarce resources.
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