A nurse is making an initial psychiatric assessment. What does she realize is the most important part of this process?
1. Providing the DSM-5 diagnosis
2. Gathering information from the family
3. Ruling out a medical causation of symptoms
4. Evaluating the need for psychotropic medication
Answer: 3
Explanation: The cardinal rule in psychiatric assessment is to rule out a medical causation of symptoms. Following a thorough assessment, the health care provider may make a DSM-5 diagnosis. If there is family present, information gathering may be helpful but it is not the most critical part of the initial assessment. Evaluating the need for psychotropic medication is not the first step in a nurse's initial assessment.
You might also like to view...
A client is prescribed medication that can interact with nutrients in the kidney. Which alteration in pharmokinetics is this client at risk for developing?
a. Excretion b. Metabolism c. Polypharmacy d. Bioavailability
In early pregnancy, a woman is scheduled for a sonogram for detection of the gestational sac. As part of your instructions prior to this study, you would tell her
A) not to drink any fluid 1 hour prior to the study. B) to be prepared for a catheter to be inserted prior to the study. C) to empty her bladder just prior to the study. D) to drink a large amount of fluid prior to the study.
Nodes located at the base of the skull are the ____________ nodes
a. preauricular b. postauricular c. occipital d. epitrochlear
The nurse is teaching the family of a child with a long-term central venous access device about signs and symptoms of bacteremia. What finding indicates the presence of bacteremia?
a. Hypertension b. Pain at the entry site c. Fever and general malaise d. Redness and swelling at the entry site