NCLEX: A 31-year-old client on an inpatient psychiatric unit is being evaluated for expressions of hopelessness. Assessm…

Psychiatric / mental health nursing Psychosocial Integrity

Case Study

A 31-year-old client on an inpatient psychiatric unit is being evaluated for expressions of hopelessness. Assessment data include the client states, "I don't want to live anymore" and has a plan with access to means. Before a medication-related action, what must the nurse verify?

Question

A. Administer on schedule even when the client is unarousable.
B. Right client, medication, dose, route, time, allergies, indication, and relevant monitoring per protocol.
C. Skip allergy checks if the drug was given previously without reaction.
D. Delegate medication judgment to UAP to save time.

Rationale

Correct answer: B. Right client, medication, dose, route, time, allergies, indication, and relevant monitoring per protocol.

Rationale: Medication safety requires full rights verification and monitoring; shortcuts increase error risk on the NCLEX and at the bedside.

Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.

Level: Foundational

Difficulty: Easy

Subtopic: Suicide risk