HESI Mental Health 2023 Related

Review HESI Mental Health 2023 related questions and content

A female client with major depression is prescribed fluoxetine (Prozac). She reports experiencing increased energy but still feels sad and hopeless. What is the nurse's best response?

  • A. ''These feelings are normal and will pass with time.''
  • B. ''Increased energy can sometimes lead to increased risk for self-harm.''
  • C. ''The medication needs more time to be effective.''
  • D. ''Let's talk about the things that make you feel this way.''
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. Increased energy without improvement in mood can increase the risk of self-harm in clients with depression. It is crucial for the nurse to recognize this potential risk and closely monitor the client for any signs of self-harm. Choice A is incorrect because dismissing the client's persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness as normal may invalidate her experiences. Choice C is incorrect as fluoxetine (Prozac) typically starts showing effectiveness within a few weeks, so further delay is concerning. Choice D is incorrect because while discussing the client's feelings is important, the immediate focus should be on addressing the potential risk of self-harm associated with increased energy.