A pedophile receiving treatment tells the nurse, "I feel so guilty and shameful over molesting a child.My family will be so disgusted with me.I could save them from embarrassment if I were gone." What is the nurse's priority action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse's priority action should be to further assess the patient's suicidality, as the patient's statement indicates a potential risk for self-harm. The nurse may need to initiate a suicide risk assessment and possibly involve the interdisciplinary team to develop a safety plan to prevent harm to the patient. While setting limits on the patient's disclosures may be appropriate at times, it is not the priority action in this situation. Administering a PRN medication for anxiety may provide temporary relief, but it does not address the underlying issues of guilt and shame that the patient is experiencing. Exploring the patient's feelings of guilt and shame is important, but it is not the priority action in this situation where there is potential risk for self-harm.

A Pedophile Receiving Treatment Tells the Nurse, "I Feel So