HESI Mental Health 2023 Related

Review HESI Mental Health 2023 related questions and content

A 22-year-old male client is admitted to the emergency center following a suicide attempt. His records reveal that this is his third suicide attempt in the past two years. He is conscious, but does not respond to verbal commands for treatment. Which assessment finding should prompt the nurse to prepare the client for gastric lavage?

  • A. He ingested the drug 3 hours prior to admission to the emergency center.
  • B. The family reports that he took an entire bottle of acetaminophen (Tylenol).
  • C. He is unresponsive to instructions and is unable to cooperate with emetic therapy.
  • D. Those with repeated suicide attempts desire punishment to relieve their guilt.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because the client's unresponsiveness and inability to cooperate with emetic therapy indicate the need for gastric lavage. Gastric lavage is a procedure used to remove toxic substances from the stomach in cases where the patient is unresponsive or unable to cooperate. Choice A is incorrect as the time of ingestion alone does not indicate the need for gastric lavage. Choice B, although indicating a significant overdose, does not directly necessitate gastric lavage. Choice D is incorrect as it provides information about the possible psychological motivation for repeated suicide attempts, but it is not directly related to the immediate need for gastric lavage in this scenario.