A nurse is participating as a speaker in a public workshop on the topic of promoting mental health in young and middle-aged adults. The nurse tells the audience that age, unemployment, and lower education are risk factors associated with mental illness. A woman raises her hand and asks, "Does that mean because I only have a 10th grade education and am unemployed that I will develop a mental illness?" Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The existence of a risk factor does not always mean the person will get the disorder or disease; it just increases the chances. Thus, the best response would be that the woman has an increased risk. Telling the woman that the statistics are based on large cities, or confirming the possibility, are inaccurate statements.

A Nurse Is Participating as a Speaker in a Public