Level: Clinical
Difficulty: Medium
Subtopic: Mood disorders
NCLEX: A 31-year-old client on an inpatient psychiatric unit is being evaluated for major depressive symptoms. Assessmen…
Psychiatric / mental health nursing Psychosocial Integrity
Case Study
A 31-year-old client on an inpatient psychiatric unit is being evaluated for major depressive symptoms. Assessment data include the client is withdrawn, flat affect, and refusing meals for 2 days. Using ABCs and Maslow, which need should the nurse address first?
Question
A. Pain relief before checking airway and breathing.
B. Visitor concerns before physiologic stability.
C. Long-term teaching before treating acute physiologic risk.
D. Airway, breathing, and circulation problems before comfort or psychosocial needs.
B. Visitor concerns before physiologic stability.
C. Long-term teaching before treating acute physiologic risk.
D. Airway, breathing, and circulation problems before comfort or psychosocial needs.
Rationale
Correct answer: D. Airway, breathing, and circulation problems before comfort or psychosocial needs.
Rationale: Physiologic stability and ABCs take priority over comfort, teaching, or psychosocial needs when the client is unstable.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.
Rationale: Physiologic stability and ABCs take priority over comfort, teaching, or psychosocial needs when the client is unstable.
Hint: Apply ABCs, client stability, and NCSBN clinical judgment steps before choosing an intervention.