For a female client with major depressive disorder reporting feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, what is the nurse's priority intervention?
- A. Encourage the client to join a support group.
- B. Refer the client for cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).
- C. Assess the client's risk for suicide.
- D. Suggest the client participate in daily exercise.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is to assess the client's risk for suicide. When a client expresses feelings of hopelessness and helplessness, it indicates a high risk of self-harm or suicide. Therefore, the priority intervention should be to assess the client's safety. Encouraging the client to join a support group (choice A) may be beneficial but not the priority at this time. Referring the client for cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) (choice B) and suggesting daily exercise (choice D) are important interventions in managing depression but assessing the risk for suicide takes precedence due to the immediate safety concern.
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The RN is providing education about strategies for a safety plan for a female client who is a victim of intimate partner violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety plan? (select one that does not apply)
- A. Purchase a gun to use for protection.
- B. Keep quiet and calm.
- C. Take a self-defense course that retaliates against the abuser with injury.
- D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Taking a self-defense course that retaliates against the abuser with injury can escalate the level of violence and is not recommended in a safety plan for a victim of intimate partner violence. The correct strategies include establishing a code, having a bag ready, and planning an escape route, which enhance safety without increasing the risk of harm.
A 65-year-old female client complains to the nurse that recently she has been hearing voices. What question should the nurse ask this client first?
- A. Do you have problems with hallucinations?
- B. Are you ever alone when you hear the voices?
- C. Has anyone in your family had hearing problems?
- D. Do you see things that others cannot see?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should first ask if the client is ever alone when she hears the voices. This question helps differentiate between potential auditory hallucinations and other causes like hearing loss. Choice A is not the best first question as it assumes the client is experiencing hallucinations without exploring other possibilities. Choice C is irrelevant to the immediate concern of hearing voices. Choice D pertains to visual hallucinations which are not described in the client's complaint of hearing voices.
The LPN/LVN is caring for a client who has been prescribed a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) for depression. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching?
- A. I need to avoid foods that are high in tyramine, like aged cheese and cured meats.
- B. I should take this medication with food to avoid nausea.
- C. I can drink alcohol in moderation while taking this medication.
- D. I can stop taking this medication once I feel better.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The statement 'I can drink alcohol in moderation while taking this medication' indicates a need for further teaching because alcohol consumption can have dangerous interactions with MAOIs. MAOIs can interact with alcohol to cause a hypertensive crisis, which can be life-threatening. Choices A and B are correct statements as avoiding tyramine-rich foods and taking the medication with food can help prevent adverse effects. Choice D is incorrect because abruptly stopping an antidepressant medication like an MAOI can lead to withdrawal symptoms and a relapse of depression.
What information should the nurse include in the client's teaching about starting a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) for major depressive disorder?
- A. It may take several weeks for the medication to take effect.
- B. You can stop taking the medication once you feel better.
- C. Avoid foods high in tyramine while on this medication.
- D. You should expect an immediate improvement in mood.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: "It may take several weeks for the medication to take effect." SSRIs typically take several weeks to reach their full effect, and it's important to set realistic expectations for the client. Choice B is incorrect because stopping the medication abruptly can lead to withdrawal symptoms and worsening of depression. Choice C is unrelated to SSRI therapy and pertains more to MAOIs. Choice D is incorrect as SSRIs do not provide immediate improvement in mood; rather, they require time to exert their therapeutic effects.
Based on non-compliance with the medication regimen, an adult client with a medical diagnosis of substance abuse and schizophrenia was recently switched from oral fluphenazine HCl (Prolixin) to IM fluphenazine decanoate (Prolixin Decanoate). What is most important to teach the client and family about this change in medication regimen?
- A. Signs and symptoms of extrapyramidal effects (EPS).
- B. Information about substance abuse and schizophrenia.
- C. The effects of alcohol and drug interaction.
- D. The availability of support groups for those with dual diagnoses.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Teaching about the effects of alcohol and drug interaction is crucial to prevent adverse reactions, especially with the long-acting injectable form of fluphenazine. Understanding how alcohol and drugs can interact with the medication will help the client and family to ensure medication effectiveness and avoid potential harmful effects. Choices A, B, and D are not the most important to teach in this scenario. While knowing the signs and symptoms of extrapyramidal effects (EPS) is important, understanding the effects of alcohol and drug interaction is more critical in this specific situation. Information about substance abuse and schizophrenia, as well as the availability of support groups, are essential aspects of care but are not the primary focus when switching to a long-acting injectable medication due to non-compliance.