A client with schizophrenia has made the comment to the nurse, "My family's life would be a whole lot simpler if I was dead and gone." When responding to this client's allusion to suicide, what principle should the nurse enact?
A) Take every threat of suicide seriously.
B) Counter every threat of suicide with an encouraging response.
C) Respond to mentions of suicide with sympathy.
D) View references to suicide as a symptom of disease rather than a threat to health.
Ans: A
Feedback:
Nurses must take any threat of suicide (ideation or attempt) seriously. An encouraging response is often simplistic, and sympathy is not normally an appropriate response. Even though a statement may be symptomatic of a disease process, it should still be seen as an acute threat.
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