Exam 22: Suicide and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

A nurse assesses a patient who reports a 3-week history of depression and periods of uncontrolled crying. The patient says, "My business is bankrupt, and I was served with divorce papers." Which subsequent statement by the patient alerts the nurse to a concealed suicidal message?

A nurse assesses five newly hospitalized patients. Which patients have the highest suicide risk?

A person intentionally overdosed on antidepressants. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest priority?

A nurse uses the SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides data relevant to which of the following?

After one of their identical twin daughters commits suicide, the parents express concern that the other twin may also have suicidal tendencies. Which reply should the nurse provide?

Four individuals have given information about their suicide plans. Which plan evidences the highest suicide risk?

Select the most critical question for the nurse to ask an adolescent who has threatened to take an overdose of pills.

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

A nurse interacts with an outpatient who has a history of multiple suicide attempts. Select the most helpful response for a nurse to make when the patient states, "I am considering committing suicide."

Which intervention will the nurse recommend for the distressed family and friends of someone who has committed suicide?

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

Which individual in the emergency department should be considered at highest risk for completing suicide?

A college student is extremely upset after failing two examinations. The student said, "No one understands how this will hurt my chances of getting into medical school." The student then suspends access to his social networking website and turns off his cell phone. Which suicide risk factors are evident?

Which change in the brain's biochemical function is most associated with suicidal behaviour?

A patient hospitalized for 2 weeks committed suicide during the night. Which initial nursing measure will be most important regarding this event?

A nurse counsels a patient with recent suicidal ideation. Which is the nurse's most therapeutic comment?

Which nursing interventions will be implemented for a patient who is actively suicidal?

A person who attempted suicide by overdose was treated in the emergency department and then hospitalized. The initial outcome is that the patient will do which of the following?

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

What is the key element when the nurse is providing follow-up counselling to a patient who has been discharged to home following a suicide attempt?