The nurse is caring for a patient who has major depressive disorder. The patient tells the nurse, "I sometimes wonder what my family would think if I killed myself. I wonder if they would even care." What is the nurse's best response?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

1. The priority for this patient is for the nurse to determine if the patient is currently suicidal, as this will determine the immediate needs of the patient. The nurse will not ask the patient why the patient thinks his or her family wouldn't care if the patient commits suicide, nor will the nurse ask why the patient think suicide is the answer. These questions do not ask about the immediate danger of whether the patient is currently suicidal. Asking if the patient thinks that suicide will solve his or her problems is non-therapeutic and does not assess for the immediate safety needs of the patient.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Has Major