During an admission to the inpatient adolescent unit, a client tells the nurse that his foster parents punish him too severely. The appropriate response of the nurse is to:

Question

1. Inform the psychiatrist.
2. Notify the authorities.
3. Gather data from the foster parents regarding their disciplinary practices.
4. Tell the parents they need to be more therapeutic, not punitive.

Answer 1

3
Rationale: It is insufficient to base the nursing response to the adolescent's needs and dilemmas solely on behaviors without a more comprehensive evaluation of other factors. Part of the assessment will include gathering data regarding the foster parents' disciplinary practices. Telling them they need to be more therapeutic, not punitive, is inappropriate and nontherapeutic. Part of being therapeutic is holding the child accountable for his actions, which may result in punitive consequences. The nurse will not notify the authorities unless there is evidence to suggest the adolescent is being harmed by his parent's disciplinary actions. The nurse will provide the information to the psychiatrist, but not until the assessment data is complete.