A 16-year-old boy asks to speak with the nurse at the mental health clinic where his family is receiving counseling. He tells the nurse that his father's drinking is getting worse and the boy is afraid that his father will hurt his mother

Question

The boy asks the nurse what can be done. What would be the best response by the nurse?
A) "We can plan a therapeutic intervention."
B) "Nothing, this is between your mother and your father."
C) "We can work with you to learn to protect your mother."
D) "We should encourage your father to get better."

Answer 1

Ans: A

Feedback: Families may approach the health care team to help set limits on the dysfunctional behavior of people who abuse substances. At these times, a therapeutic intervention is organized for the purpose of confronting the patient about substance use and the need to obtain drug or alcohol treatment. Option B is incorrect as it does not provide the necessary information and support to the boy. Option C is incorrect because the nurse would not work with the patient to learn to protect his mother. Option D is incorrect because encouraging the father "to get better" implies that the substance-abuse problem is a problem the father has chosen to have.