Deck 27: Preventing and Responding to Suicide

Question 1

The nurse is assessing four patients for a risk for suicide. According to the Level of Suicidal Severity Index, which patient statement indicates the greatest risk for suicide?

A) "I have no reason to live anymore, and suicide is my only option."
B) "I think committing suicide will help to solve all the problems I have."
C) "I plan to commit suicide by overdosing on prescription pain medication."
D) "I sometimes think about how suicide might solve my problems, but I would never do it."

Answer 1

"I have no reason to live anymore, and suicide is my only option."

Question 2

A community health nurse is providing education to a group of mental health employees regarding the influence of the economy on the suicide rate within the community. What statement by the mental health employee indicates the need for further teaching?

A) "Suicide rates increase during times of war."
B) "Suicide rates decrease during times of war."
C) "Suicide rates increase during times of economic distress."
D) "Suicide rates decrease during times of economic growth."

Answer 2

"Suicide rates increase during times of war."

Question 3

The nurse is performing an initial suicide risk assessment. What questions will the nurse include in this assessment? Select all that apply.

A) "Do you have thoughts of suicide?"
B) "Do you have a way to harm yourself?"
C) "Do you have fantasies about hurting yourself?"
D) "Do you have thoughts about the consequences that result from suicide?"
E) "Do you have thoughts about how your family will react if you commit suicide?"

Answer 3

"Do you have thoughts of suicide?"
"Do you have a way to harm yourself?"
"Do you have fantasies about hurting yourself?"

Question 4

The nurse is caring for a patient who is active duty military. The nurse suspects the patient may be suicidal. According to current research on laboratory values and suicide, which action by the nurse would be most appropriate?

A) Review the patient's vitamin K level
B) Review the patient's vitamin D level
C) Review the patient's serum calcium level
D) Review the patient's serum potassium level

Question 5

The nurse is caring for a patient who is displaying hopelessness. The nurse wants to assess if the patient has any internal protective measures that could be used to assist the patient to overcome suicidal thoughts. Which question is most appropriate for this purpose?

A) "How well do you relate to others?"
B) "Do you request assistance when needed?"
C) "Do you have valued relationships with others?"
D) "How do you handle conflicts with others?"

Question 6

When performing a suicide risk assessment, for which factors should the nurse assess based on an understanding of the psychiatric causal factor in suicide?

A) Anticipatory grief
B) Fearful anxiety
C) Acute illness
D) Increased productivity

Question 7

The nurse is caring for a patient in an outpatient clinic who has selected and obtained lethal measures to follow through with suicide completion. What nursing intervention is most appropriate for this patient?

A) Encourage the patient to attend psychotherapy.
B) Encourage coping skills, such as stress reduction.
C) Facilitate assessment in the emergency department to determine the appropriate level of care.
D) Arrange for transportation to the emergency department and plan for admission to the behavioral health unit.

Question 8

The nurse is caring for a patient who has expressed a desire to commit suicide. Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?

A) "Your problems will get better. Hurting yourself is not the answer."
B) "Your family and friends will be very upset at you if you hurt yourself."
C) "I am shocked that you would consider hurting yourself. You have so much to live for."
D) "I am here for you. I know you want to hurt yourself, but there are things we can do to help you."

Question 9

The nurse is caring for the following patients. Which patient should the nurse assess most carefully for suicide risk?

A) 16-year-old Asian female
B) 87-year-old Caucasian male
C) 72-year-old Hispanic female
D) 14-year-old African American male

Question 10

In order to prevent suicide, the nurse is learning about recognizing protective measures in patients displaying hopelessness. Which patient will the nurse recognize as displaying external protective measures?

A) The patient who is passive during a dispute.
B) The patient who requests assistance when needed.
C) The patient who remains calm during an argument.
D) The patient who displays problem-solving capabilities.

Question 11

The nurse at a community health clinic is conducting a mental health assessment on a patient with a history of depression. Which environmental factor does the nurse recognize as a risk factor for suicide?

A) Isolation from others
B) Chronic illness
C) Apprehensive anxiety
D) Working two jobs

Question 12

When assessing a patient's suicidal ideations and level of risk, which question most appropriately conveys empathy?

A) "Do you have any firearms?"
B) "What struggles in your life are upsetting you?"
C) "Do you ever feel like you want to hurt yourself?"
D) "Is there anything you could do now to make yourself feel better?"

Question 13

The nurse is planning care for a patient who is suspected of being at risk for suicide. Which question would be most appropriate for the nurse to ask the patient when determining the presence of protective measures?

A) "Do you have any thoughts of suicide?"
B) "Do you have a history of trauma in your past?"
C) "What symptoms of depression are you experiencing?"
D) "Do you identify with a religious or spiritual group?"

Question 14

The nurse manager is providing an in-service to the staff nurses regarding personality characteristics associated with increased rates of suicide. Which characteristics will the nurse include in the teaching? Select all that apply.

A) Aggressiveness
B) Impulsivity
C) Passivity
D) Compulsivity
E) Assertiveness

Question 15

The nurse is caring for a group of patients who are all active duty military. Which patient statement would the nurse identify as increasing the patient's risk for suicide?

A) "I drink alcohol when I need to relax."
B) "My children stress me out sometimes."
C) "I graduated college, but my grades were not great."
D) "I have never been deployed to a war zone."

Question 16

The nurse is caring for a patient with a previous history of suicide attempt. The patient has been participating in the treatment plan, and while not actively suicidal, continues to express feelings of hopelessness. Which statements by the nurse would best promote hope for this patient? Select all that apply.

A) "Tell me about the struggles in your life."
B) "How are you trying to solve some of your problems?"
C) "Have you ever felt like you wanted to hurt yourself?"
D) "Are you getting any regular exercise?"
E) "You are doing a great job by participating in the ordered therapy."

Question 17

While performing a suicide assessment, the nurse asks the patient, "Have you ever thought of taking your own life?" What is the rationale for the nurse's question? Select all that apply.

A) It directly addresses the issue of suicide.
B) It causes the patient to think about suicide.
C) It gives the patient an idea about suicide methods.
D) It causes the patient to open up about other suicide attempts.
E) It alleviates the patient's anxiety about considering suicide.

Question 18

The nurse manager is preparing a teaching session on suicide for a group of novice nurses. What will the nurse manager include in the teaching? Select all that apply.

A) Women commit suicide more than men.
B) Men commit suicide more than women.
C) Women have a higher rate of attempted suicide.
D) Older adults commit suicide more than younger adults.
E) Younger adults commit suicide more than older adults.

Question 19

The advanced practice nurse is caring for a patient in an outpatient clinic who has expressed thoughts of suicide, but who does not have a plan or means in place. The patient tells the nurse, "I sometimes think it would be easier for me to just go to sleep and never wake up. But I don't hurt myself because I love my children too much." Which nursing interventions are most appropriate for this patient? Select all that apply.

A) Place the patient on constant observation for safety.
B) Teach the use of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
C) Admit the patient to the behavioral health hospital immediately.
D) Encourage the patient to use internal and external support systems.
E) Be aware that the patient is likely to reject any attempt at intervention, including teaching.

Question 20

The nurse in an emergency department is conducting mental health assessments. The nurse recognizes that which patients are at greatest risk for a suicide attempt? Select all that apply.

A) A 45-year-old with a personality disorder
B) A 19-year-old with a recent diagnosis of schizophrenia
C) A 35-year-old working mother who is brought in by her co-worker
D) A 22-year-old soldier recently returned from deployment in Afghanistan
E) A 15-year-old who sprained his ankle while camping with his church group

Question 21

The community health nurse is providing education about various community services that patients and family members can use to prevent suicide. Which statement made by the nurse best exemplifies secondary prevention resources?

A) "Here is a brochure that lists the signs of suicide."
B) "Let me tell you the various resources available for the prevention of suicide."
C) "The hospital has a support group for survivors of suicide that meets every Tuesday."
D) "Let me discuss with you the benefits of early intervention for the prevention of suicide."

Question 22

The nurse is caring for four patients at risk for suicide. Which patient would benefit most from tertiary prevention of suicide?

A) The patient who presents to the primary care clinic for an annual wellness exam
B) The patient who presents to the local urgent care expressing hopelessness
C) The patient who presents to the emergency department after surviving a suicide attempt
D) The patient who presents to the outpatient clinic who has survived a previous suicide attempt

Question 23

The nurse is planning on providing primary intervention education for patients at risk for suicide. Which role will the nurse most likely assume?

A) Teaching first responders the signs of increased risk for suicide
B) Teaching a group of parents about the signs of suicidal gestures
C) Teaching a patient about re-establishing a healthy sense of self
D) Teaching community members about resources available to prevent a suicide attempt

Question 24

The nurse is caring for a patient who tells the nurse, "I attempted suicide last year but I feel like I am doing better now." On what will the nurse focus during patient education?

A) Emphasizing that the patient seek and use resources to prevent a suicide attempt
B) Encouraging the patient to call family members for support when having feelings of suicide
C) Developing a pamphlet of information that the patient will use to increase knowledge on suicide prevention
D) Encouraging the patient attend a support group with other individuals who have attempted suicide