A suicidal patient tells the nurse, "There's no other way out for me. I have so many prob-lems that there's nothing to do but cash it in." Which statement by the nurse would be a helpful approach?
a. "I can see that things are bad. It's good you recognized your limitations."
b. "Let's look at the problem you consider most urgent to see about a solution."
c. "We'll begin problem-solving together as soon as you stop feeling suicidal."
d. "Your thinking is flawed. I'll teach you to think differently and be less de-pressed."
ANS: B
The most effective intervention is to help the patient prioritize problems and work on them one at a time. To affirm the negative is not therapeutic. Although a change in thinking is ap-propriate, it does not deal with the patient's statement about problems. The remaining option places unrealistic demands on the patient.
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