Level: Foundational
Difficulty: Easy
Subtopic: Suicide risk
NCLEX: A 42-year-old client in a crisis stabilization unit is being evaluated for expressions of hopelessness. Assessmen…
Psychiatric / mental health nursing Psychosocial Integrity
Case Study
A 42-year-old client in a crisis stabilization unit is being evaluated for expressions of hopelessness. Assessment data include the client reports hearing voices telling them to hurt themselves. Using ABCs and Maslow, which need should the nurse address first?
Question
A. Pain relief before checking airway and breathing.
B. Airway, breathing, and circulation problems before comfort or psychosocial needs.
C. Visitor concerns before physiologic stability.
D. Long-term teaching before treating acute physiologic risk.
B. Airway, breathing, and circulation problems before comfort or psychosocial needs.
C. Visitor concerns before physiologic stability.
D. Long-term teaching before treating acute physiologic risk.
Rationale
Correct answer: B. 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.