The Nurse Asks a Patient Admitted with a Diagnosis of Major

The nurse asks a patient admitted with a diagnosis of major depression,"Do you feel like hurting yourself at this time?" What is the primary rationale for obtaining this information when nothing in the referral note implied that the patient was suicidal?

A) It is likely that he is hiding the desire to harm himself.
B) This information must be reported to the patient's physician.
C) Specific safety measures must be implemented when self-harm is a danger.
D) Patient safety is always the primary responsibility of the unit's nursing staff.