A depressed patient admitted following a suicide attempt by overdose of sedatives states, "I don't feel like signing your papers. My partner should have let me die." What level of suicide precautions should the nurse apply?
a. No precautions because the patient is in a secure setting
b. Routine observation that is appropriate for all patients
c. One-to-one continuous supervision by staff members
d. Observation by staff members every 15 minutes
C
One-to-one constant supervision is appropriate for suicidal patients who are considered at high risk: those who still have suicidal ideation, those who are angry that an attempt failed, or those who refuse to participate in their own care by agreeing to talk with staff before harming themselves. The other options are not appropriate for a patient whose suicide risk is high.
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a. 6 to 10 months b. 10 to 14 months c. 14 to 18 months d. 18 to 24 months
The perinatal continuum of care:
1. begins with conception and ends with birth. 2. begins with family planning and continues until the infant is 1 year old. 3. begins with prenatal care and continues until the newborn is 24 weeks old. 4. refers to home care only.
A nurse is caring for a white man age 30 years whose wife has recently died. The client has been diagnosed with clinical depression and is demonstrating insufficient coping skills. Which action by the nurse would be most important?
A) Refer the client for long-term psychotherapy. B) Determine the client's risk of psychosis. C) Determine whether anyone in the client's family has had depression. D) Ask the client whether he is thinking about killing himself.
The daughter of a dying patient is distressed about oversedation related to her mother's receiving 2 mg of morphine sulfate every hour. The nurse clarifies that this small dose of morphine is helpful in controlling the end-of-life symptom of:
a. dyspnea. b. pain. c. hallucinations. d. fatigue.