Deck 13: Suicide

Question 1

Your new patient is admitted after a suicide attempt. She states, "Let me die, I don't deserve to live." What is your best response?
1)"Why do you want to die?"
2)"You have so much to live for."
3)"How do you think your family feels now?"
4)"You must have been feeling very hopeless. Tell me about it."

Answer 1

4

Question 2

Suicide is most likely to occur:
1)On admission to a psychiatric hospital.
2)At the beginning of psychotherapy.
3)As the depression begins lifting.
4)When the depression deepens.

Answer 2

3

Question 3

You have been consistently caring for a patient who is suicidal. The patient now tells you, "Nurse, I finally have it all figured out. It's going to be just fine." Your best response to this patient is:
1)"I'm so glad to hear that!"
2)"What a relief for you!"
3)"I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Tell me more."
4)"You are not depressed anymore then?"

Answer 3

3

Question 4

You are caring for an adolescent patient who has swallowed all of his mother's sleeping pills and pain pills. The patient has had a gastric lavage and is able to answer questions. The best question to ask this patient is:
1)"What are your thoughts right now about hurting yourself?"
2)"Why on earth did you do that?"
3)"Don't you know how much your family loves you and how much they will miss you if you kill yourself?"
4)"This is a very immature way to get attention."

Question 5

The best approach a nurse can use to gain information relating to a patient's potential for suicide is to ask:
1)"What do you plan to be doing 5 years from now?"
2)"Does your family know you are considering suicide?"
3)"What have other patients told you about their suicide attempts?"
4)"Are you thinking of killing yourself now?"

Question 6

Your depressed patient has suddenly changed to being more cheerful and tells you he wants to reduce the clutter at home and give away some prized possessions to friends. What should be your response?
1)"I'm glad you are feeling better."
2)"I'll tell the doctor and maybe he will reduce your dose of antidepressant."
3)Ask the patient if he has any thoughts about suicide.
4)Document what the patient tells you and see another patient.

Question 7

Of the following patient statements, which do nurses recognize as the highest risk for a patient to commit suicide?
1)"I've been saving my pain medications for when I really need them. Now that my spouse has left me I think I will use them right before the holidays."
2)"I told my boss if he fires me, I'll kill myself."
3)"Nobody appreciates the work I do. They'd miss me if I just killed myself and was gone one day."
4)"I really admire people who have enough nerve to kill themselves. I'm not that brave yet."

Question 8

As you perform a suicide assessment on your patient, you learn that the patient has only one person to call in times of need, has been thinking about suicide frequently in past weeks, and has attempted suicide once before 3 years ago. Given this information you believe this patient's suicide risk is:
1)Low.
2)Moderate.
3)None.
4)Imminent.

Question 9

Patients are most likely to commit suicide when:
1)They are severely depressed.
2)They feel trapped.
3)They are recently discharged from the hospital.
4)They have a significant other who is supportive.

Question 10

A suicidal patient has been transferred to your unit from the medical floor and asks you why he "has to be watched every minute. I have a right to my privacy; I'm an adult and can come and go as I please." The best response to this patient is:
1)"Why do you think you are being watched?"
2)"We are concerned that you might attempt to seriously hurt yourself."
3)"It shouldn't bother you if you have nothing to hide from us."
4)"This is a direct order from your doctor."

Question 11

Your 15-year-old neighbor, who knows you are a mental health nurse, informs you that he has "a friend who is talking about suicide." Your best initial response to the young neighbor is:
1)"Who is it? Another neighbor?"
2)"I have some time. Tell me a little about this friend."
3) Suicide
3)"Who else knows? Has this friend told anyone else?"
4)"Your friend needs help right away!"

Question 12

Which would be most important to find out next about the above patient?
1)Does he have a suicide plan now?
2)What is his psychiatric diagnosis?
3)Who does he live with?
4)What type of psychiatric therapy has he had recently?

Question 13

A patient becomes suicidal and is transferred to the locked unit of your hospital. Because this patient is actively suicidal you should:
1)Keep the patient in your line of vision at all times.
2)Perform suicide assessments every half-hour.
3)Inform the doctor that the patient is now in a locked seclusion room.
4)Take vital signs every 15 minutes.

Question 14

When planning care for a patient who is suicidal, the nurse knows:
1)Suicide ideations are only gestures.
2)Liquid medication allows the patient to "cheek" the medication.
3)Teaching new problem-solving skills is a priority of care for suicidal patients.
4)It is necessary to know the reasons why the patient has suicidal thoughts.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is true about suicide?
1)There is generally some warning when someone commits suicide.
2)Victims of suicide have a genetic predisposition to it.
3)Suicide can always be prevented.
4)Talking about suicide means the person is not serious about it.