Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 8th Edition - Foundations of Psychiatric?Mental Health Nursing Related

Review Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 8th Edition - Foundations of Psychiatric?Mental Health Nursing related questions and content

The nurse consults the DSM for which of the following purposes?

  • A. To devise a plan of care for a newly admitted client
  • B. To predict the client's prognosis of treatment outcomes
  • C. To document the appropriate diagnostic code in the client's medical record
  • D. To serve as a guide for client assessment
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The DSM provides standard nomenclature, presents defining characteristics, and identifies underlying causes of mental disorders. It does not provide care plans or prognostic outcomes of treatment. Diagnosis of mental illness is not within the generalist RN's scope of practice, so documenting the code in the medical record would be inappropriate.