Question 1

A person who attempted suicide by overdose was treated in the emergency department and then hospitalized. The initial outcome is that the patient will do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The immediate and most critical outcome for a patient who has attempted suicide is to ensure their safety by preventing further self-harm, making option D the most appropriate initial outcome.

Question 2

Which intervention will the nurse recommend for the distressed family and friends of someone who has committed suicide?

Accepted Answer

Attending a self-help group for survivors can provide the distressed family and friends of someone who has committed suicide with a supportive environment where they can talk about their experiences, feelings and concerns with others who have experienced a similar loss. It can also provide them with resources and coping strategies to manage their grief and trauma. Reminiscence therapy and psychological postmortem assessment are not necessarily appropriate interventions for all individuals and may require specialized training and expertise. Contracting for at least two sessions of group therapy may not be sufficient and may not address the unique needs and experiences of suicide survivors.

Question 3

What is the key element when the nurse is providing follow-up counselling to a patient who has been discharged to home following a suicide attempt?

Accepted Answer

Establishing a working alliance to encourage realistic problem solving is crucial in follow-up counselling as it helps the patient develop coping strategies and address underlying issues, promoting long-term recovery and preventing future attempts.

Question 4

A nurse interacts with an outpatient who has a history of multiple suicide attempts. Select the most helpful response for a nurse to make when the patient states, "I am considering committing suicide."

Accepted Answer

The correct response gives the patient reinforcement, recognition, and validation for making a positive response rather than acting out the suicidal impulse. It gives neither advice nor false reassurance, and it does not imply stereotypes such as "You have a lot to live for." It uses the patient's ambivalence and sets the stage for more realistic problem solving.

Question 5

Which statement provides the best rationale for closely monitoring a severely depressed patient during antidepressant medication therapy?

Accepted Answer

Severe depression is often accompanied by suicidal thoughts or ideation. As the depression lifts, the patient may experience an increase in physical energy, which can provide the means to carry out suicidal impulses. Therefore, closely monitoring a severely depressed patient during antidepressant medication therapy is necessary to ensure that the patient's condition is improving, and to intervene if suicidal thoughts or behavior arise.

Question 6

Which measure would be considered a form of primary intervention for suicide?

Accepted Answer

Primary intervention aims to prevent the onset of a problem before it occurs. Teaching children stress management and resilience is a proactive approach to prevent suicidal thoughts or behaviors from developing.

Question 7

When assessing a patient's plan for suicide, what aspect has priority?

Accepted Answer

The availability of means and lethality of method have priority in assessing a patient's plan for suicide. This information can help determine the level of intervention needed to prevent the patient from carrying out their plan. Factors such as the patient's financial and educational status, insight into suicidal motivation, and quality of social support are important to consider as well but are secondary to the potential risk of immediate harm to the patient.

Question 8

A person intentionally overdosed on antidepressants. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest priority?

Accepted Answer

Risk for suicide is the highest priority because the person intentionally overdosed on medication, indicating that he or she has suicidal ideations and is at an immediate risk for attempting suicide again. Powerlessness may also be applicable, but it is not the highest priority in this situation. Social isolation and compromised family coping may be important concerns, but they are not as urgent as the risk for suicide.

Question 9

A nurse counsels a patient with recent suicidal ideation. Which is the nurse's most therapeutic comment?

Accepted Answer

The nurse helps the patient develop effective coping skills. Assist the patient to reduce the overwhelming effects of problems by prioritizing them. The incorrect options continue to present overwhelming approaches to problem solving.

Question 10

An adult outpatient diagnosed with major depression has a history of several suicide attempts by overdose. Given this patient's history and diagnosis, which antidepressant medication would the nurse expect to be prescribed?

Accepted Answer

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants are very safe in overdosage situations,which is not true of the other medications listed.Given this patient's history of overdosing,it is important that the medication be as safe as possible in case she takes an overdose of her prescribed medication.

Question 11

A college student who failed two tests cried for hours and then tried to telephone a parent but got no answer. The student then gave several expensive sweaters to a roommate and asked to be left alone for a few hours. Which behaviour provides the strongest clue of an impending suicide attempt?

Accepted Answer

Giving away personal belongings, especially valuable ones, can be a sign of someone contemplating suicide, as they may be preparing for their absence.

Question 12

It has been 3 days since a suicidal patient was hospitalized and prescribed an antidepressant medication. The patient is now more talkative and shows increased energy. Select the highest priority nursing intervention.

Accepted Answer

The highest priority is to supervise the patient 24 hours a day because the increased energy and talkativeness may indicate that the antidepressant is starting to take effect, which can increase the risk of the patient acting on suicidal thoughts.

Question 13

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 do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A tearful, anxious patient at the outpatient...

Question 14

A depressed patient says, "Nothing matters anymore." What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

The patient's statement raises concern for suicidal ideation, so it is important for the nurse to directly assess for this.

Question 15

A nurse uses the SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides data relevant to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The SAD PERSONS scale is a clinical assessment tool used to evaluate suicide risk by considering various risk factors.

Question 16

Four individuals have given information about their suicide plans. Which plan evidences the highest suicide risk?

Accepted Answer

Using a firearm is a highly lethal method, indicating a high risk of suicide.

Question 17

Which change in the brain's biochemical function is most associated with suicidal behaviour?

Accepted Answer

Serotonin deficiency is most commonly associated with suicidal behavior, as it plays a crucial role in mood regulation and impulse control.

Question 18

A nurse assesses a patient who reports a 3-week history of depression and periods of uncontrolled crying. The patient says, "My business is bankrupt, and I was served with divorce papers." Which subsequent statement by the patient alerts the nurse to a concealed suicidal message?

Accepted Answer

The statement "I have a plan that will fix everything" suggests that the patient may be considering suicide as a solution to their problems. This implies a concealed suicidal message and warrants further assessment and intervention. The other statements express general hopelessness and despair, but do not necessarily indicate an immediate plan for self-harm.

Question 19

Select the most critical question for the nurse to ask an adolescent who has threatened to take an overdose of pills.

Accepted Answer

This question is critical because it addresses the adolescent's potential access to the means to carry out their threat. Limiting an individual's access to lethal means can be an effective suicide prevention strategy. The other questions are important as well, but ensuring the adolescent's immediate safety is the primary concern.

Question 20

A college student who attempted suicide by overdose was hospitalized. When the parents were contacted, they responded, "We should have seen this coming. We did not do enough." The parents' reaction reflects which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The parents' response indicates they feel responsible for not preventing the situation, which is characteristic of guilt.

Quiz 22: Suicide and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury