The nurse is admitting a client to the psychiatric unit. Which nursing action is correct?

Question

1. Instruct the client that all information gathered during the assessment will be shared with the mental health team.
2. Alert the client that the psychiatrist will do all the intake assessment to maximize the efficiency of the team.
3. Discuss with the client information that is to be shared with family members and the mental health team.
4. Instruct the client that the mental health team will decide what the client needs to do in treatment.

Answer 1

3
Rationale: Discussing with the client information that is to be shared with family members and the mental health team is an action that promotes a partnership with the client and enhances effectiveness of treatment. The nurse should communicate to the client that decisions related to the sharing of information would take into consideration any agreement regarding disclosure that exists between the nurse and the client and how the receiving party will use the information in the client's best interest. Not all information is significant to the client's reason for treatment. The nurse should communicate circumstances where significant information will be shared. In the spirit of collaboration, the mental health team should involve the client. This assures that clients are informed consumers of mental health services. While the psychiatrist will assess the client from the medical perspective, the nurse must assess the client's responses to the mental disorder in order to plan appropriate nursing care.