RN HESI Mental Health 2023 Related

Review RN HESI Mental Health 2023 related questions and content

An adolescent who was arrested a month ago for gang-related activities has a court order to attend weekly group therapy sessions at the mental health clinic. Today the adolescent's mother calls the clinic nurse to report that her child became angry last night and put a fist through a window. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?

  • A. Reinforce the need for the adolescent to attend group therapy sessions
  • B. Tell the mother to describe her feelings of helplessness to her child
  • C. Advise the mother to call the police if violent behavior occurs again
  • D. Refer the mother for psychiatric evaluation for anxiety and depression
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Advising the mother to call the police if violent behavior recurs prioritizes safety for the adolescent and household. Therapy attendance is important but secondary to immediate safety. Discussing the mother's feelings or referring her for evaluation does not address the acute risk.