Basic Nursing 1st Edition by Judith Wilkinson, Leslie Treas

Exercise 23

Patient Situation
Sandra Jackson is the 22-year-old single mother of an 18-month-old child. Sandra has type 1 diabetes mellitus. Sugar control has been brittle at times, primarily during times of stress and illness. Sandra lives with her mother, two younger sisters, and a brother. At times her boyfriend will stay in the home, depending on the status of their relationship. Sandra works part-time at a retail chain, struggling to meet the financial responsibilities of raising a child. She is showing physical signs of depression and distress (e.g., apathy, anorexia, excessive sleeping, and episodes of crying). Sandra says to you during your home visit, "Something is really wrong with me. I can't snap out of this feeling of darkness. Life is too hard for me and is nothing but pain. I can't take it anymore and want it to be over." You believe she needs immediate mental health support.
Caring
Ethical Knowledge: What ethical concerns might you have for a woman with a young child who is at risk for self-injury but yet has no financial resources to cover expenses of mental healthcare?