The nurse's priority assessment for a patient taking an antidepressant medication is for the presence of:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Antidepressant medication tends to energize depressed patients, possibly giving them the impetus to act on suicidal ideation that has been present related to the depression. This complication is particularly applicable to adolescents. Some suggest that suicidal ideation might be the actual result of antidepressant therapy. In either case the implication for nursing is clear: patients should be carefully assessed for the presence of suicidal ideation, suicidal plans, and means for carrying out the plans. This option is related to patient safety and takes priority over the other options.

The Nurse's Priority Assessment for a Patient Taking an Antidepressant