During a health maintenance visit an adolescent states, "I have no friends in my new school, and I no longer want to go to college. I know I will be lonely there, too." Which is the priority nursing action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The priority nursing action is to address the adolescent's statement about feeling lonely, which indicates a possible mental health issue. Promoting healthy mental health outcomes would involve assessing the adolescent's overall emotional state and providing support, resources, and referrals as needed. While it may be important to acknowledge the normal difficulties of making friends in a new school and discuss the value of postsecondary education, these actions are not the priority in addressing the adolescent's immediate emotional and mental health concerns. Stressing the importance of a close parent-child relationship may be helpful but is not as urgent as addressing the adolescent's current emotional distress.

During a Health Maintenance Visit an Adolescent States, "I Have