An adult with serious mental illness is being admitted to a community behavioral health inpatient unit.Recognizing current trends in hospitalization, the nurse can reasonable assume the need to prioritize which intervention?

Question

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The current trend in hospitalization for individuals with serious mental illness is shorter length of stay and more acute symptoms, which may result in an increased risk for aggressive behavior. Therefore, implementing safety precautions to address aggressive behavior is a priority intervention to ensure the safety of the client and other patients on the unit. While medication adherence and education about the illness are important interventions, they may not be the immediate priority for this admission. Counseling about the risks involved in demanding discharge against medical advice may also be important, but not as critical as addressing safety concerns.

An Adult with Serious Mental Illness Is Being Admitted to a Community