The 17-year-old male patient is brought to the clinic for a yearly check-up. The nurse observes the patient to be unkempt, with greasy hair and significant body odor. The patient has a flat affect during questioning. When the nurse provides education on safety practices such as wearing a seatbelt when in the car, not driving with impaired persons, and using protection during sexual intercourse, the patient retorts, “I don’t really see the point in wearing a seatbelt, if it helps me die more quickly.” Which initial response by the nurse is most appropriate?

Question

The 17-year-old male patient is brought to the clinic for a yearly check-up. The nurse observes the patient to be unkempt, with greasy hair and significant body odor. The patient has a flat affect during questioning. When the nurse provides education on safety practices such as wearing a seatbelt when in the car, not driving with impaired persons, and using protection during sexual intercourse, the patient retorts, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t really see the point in wearing a seatbelt, if it helps me die more quickly.&rdquo; Which initial response by the nurse is most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

“Please elaborate on that statement.”. The nurse should first ask the patient to elaborate on the statement to determine how best to handle the situation. If the patient reports suicidal ideation, then the nurse can ask if the patient has thought about harming himself or others. Telling the patient he is too young to want to die is inappropriate.

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