Nokea
After failing two tests, a college student cried for hours and then tried to telephone a parent but got no answer. The student then gave several expensive sweaters to a roommate. Which behavior provides the strongest clue of an impending suicide attempt?
- A. Calling parents
- B. Excessive crying
- C. Giving away sweaters
- D. Staying alone in a dorm room
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Giving away prized possessions may signal that the individual thinks he or she will have no further need for the items, such as when a suicide plan has been formulated. Calling parents and crying do not provide clues to suicide, in and of themselves. Remaining in the dormitory would be an expected behavior because the student has nowhere else to go.
You may also like to solve these questions
A tearful, anxious patient at the outpatient clinic reports, 'I should be dead.' The initial task of the nurse conducting the assessment interview is to focus on what?
- A. Assessing the lethality of any suicide plan
- B. Encouraging expression of anger
- C. Establishing a rapport with the patient
- D. Determining risk factors for suicide
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Establishing rapport will allow the nurse to obtain relevant assessment data such as the presence of a suicide plan, the lethality of a suicide plan, and the presence of risk factors for suicide.
A nurse and patient construct a no-suicide contract. Select the preferable wording for the contract.
- A. I will not try to harm myself during the next 24 hours.'
- B. I will not make a suicide attempt while I am hospitalized.'
- C. For the next 24 hours, I will discuss any thoughts of killing or harming myself with staff.'
- D. I will not kill myself until I call my primary nurse or a member of the staff.'
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer leaves no loopholes. The wording about not harming oneself and not making an attempt leaves loopholes or can be ignored by the patient who thinks, 'I am not going to harm myself, I am going to kill myself,' or 'I am not going to attempt suicide, I am going to commit suicide.' A patient may call a therapist and leave the telephone to carry out the suicidal plan.
Four individuals have given information about their suicide plans. Which plan evidences the highest suicide risk?
- A. Jumping from a 100-foot-high railroad bridge located in a deserted area late at night
- B. Turning on the oven and letting gas escape into the apartment during the night
- C. Cutting the wrists in the bathroom while the spouse reads in the next room
- D. Overdosing on aspirin with codeine while the spouse is out with friends
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: This is a highly lethal method with little opportunity for rescue. The other options are lower lethality methods with higher rescue potential.
A college student failed two examinations. The student cried for hours and then tried to call a parent but got no answer. The student then suspended access to his social networking web site. Which suicide risk factors are present?
- A. History of earlier suicide attempt
- B. Co-occurring medical illness
- C. Recent stressful life event
- D. Self-imposed isolation
- E. Shame or humiliation
Correct Answer: C,D,E
Rationale: Failing examinations in the academic major constitutes a recent stressful life event. Shame and humiliation related to the failure can be hypothesized. The inability to contact parents can be seen as a recent lack of social support, as can the roommate's absence from the dormitory. Terminating access to one's social networking site represents self-imposed isolation. This scenario does not provide data regarding a history of an earlier suicide attempt, a family history of suicide, or of co-occurring medical illness.
A depressed patient says, 'Nothing matters anymore.' What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
- A. Are you having thoughts of suicide?'
- B. I am not sure I understand what you are trying to say.'
- C. Try to stay hopeful. Things have a way of working out.'
- D. Tell me more about what interested you before you began feeling depressed.'
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse must make overt what is covert; that is, the possibility of suicide must be openly addressed. Often, patients feel relieved to be able to talk about suicidal ideation.