You are caring for an adolescent patient who has swallowed all of his mother's sleeping pills and pain pills. The patient has had a gastric lavage and is able to answer questions. The best question to ask this patient is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Asking the patient about their current thoughts on self-harm ("What are your thoughts right now about hurting yourself?") is a direct, non-judgmental approach that focuses on the patient's current mental state and risk of further self-harm. It opens a channel for communication about their feelings and intentions, which is crucial for assessing and managing suicide risk. The other options are judgmental or may make the patient feel guilty, which is not helpful in a therapeutic setting.

You Are Caring for an Adolescent Patient Who Has Swallowed