Exam 23: Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior

A depressed patient says, "Nothing matters anymore." What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

An adolescent tells the school nurse, "My friend threatened to take an overdose of pills." The nurse talks to the friend who verbalized the suicide threat. The most critical question for the nurse to ask would be:

Which statement by a patient during an assessment interview should alert the nurse to the patient's need for immediate, active intervention?

A college student failed two examinations. The student cried for hours and then tried to call a parent but got no answer. The student then suspended access to his social networking web site. Which suicide risk factors are present? (Select all that apply.)

A new nurse says to a peer, "My new patient is diagnosed with bipolar disorder. At least I won't have to worry about suicide risk." Which response by the peer would be most helpful?

A college student failed two tests. Afterward, the student cried for hours and then tried to telephone a parent but got no answer. The student then gave several expensive sweaters to a roommate. Which behavior provides the strongest clue of an impending suicide attempt?

A patient with suicidal impulses is on the highest level of suicide precautions. Which measures should the nurse incorporate into the patient's plan of care? (Select all that apply.)

When assessing a patient's plan for suicide, what aspect has priority?

An adult attempts suicide after declaring bankruptcy. The patient is hospitalized and takes an antidepressant medication for five days. The patient is now more talkative and shows increased energy. Select the highest priority nursing intervention.

A nurse uses the modified SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides data relevant to:

Which change in brain biochemical function is most associated with suicidal behavior?

A college student who attempted suicide by overdose is hospitalized. When the parents are contacted, they respond, "There must be a mistake. This could not have happened. We've given our child everything." The parents' reaction reflects:

A patient recently hospitalized for two weeks committed suicide during the night. Which initial measure will be most helpful for staff members and other patients regarding this event?

A severely depressed patient who has been on suicide precautions tells the nurse, "I am feeling a lot better, so you can stop watching me. I have taken too much of your time already." Which is the nurse's best response?

A nurse and patient construct a no-suicide contract. Select the preferable wording for the contract.

Which statement provides the best rationale for why a nurse should closely monitor a severely depressed patient during antidepressant medication therapy?

The feeling experienced by a patient that should be assessed by the nurse as most predictive of elevated suicide risk is:

Select the most helpful response for a nurse to make when a patient being treated as an outpatient states, "I am considering suicide."

A nurse answers a suicide crisis line. A caller says, "I live alone in a home several miles from my nearest neighbors. I have been considering suicide for 2 months. I have had several drinks and now my gun is loaded. I'm going to shoot myself in the heart." How would the nurse assess the lethality of this plan?

A tearful, anxious patient at the outpatient clinic reports, "I should be dead." The initial task of the nurse conducting the assessment interview is to: