A school nurse is speaking with the parents of a child identified as possibly being at risk of suicide. Which question by the nurse is the priority during the nursing assessment?
A.
"Do you have any guns in your home?"
B.
"Does your child have any close friends?"
C.
"Has your child been hoarding objects?"
D.
"Is your child ever left alone at home?"
ANS: A
The most common methods of committing suicide in children and adolescents are firearms (46%), suffocation (37%), and poisoning (8%). The most important question the nurse can ask in the options listed is whether or not the family has guns in the home. Typically the suicidal youth will distance from friends and give away prized objects. Being left alone may or may not be relevant, but is not as important as assessing if the child has a means to carry out a plan.
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