Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 84%
Simulated
Passage / Scenario
An adolescent with major depressive disorderA nurse is caring for an adolescent who has major depressive disorder. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Correct answer
D
Rationale
The correct answer is D: Ask the client if he is considering harming himself. This should be the first action because it assesses the client's safety. Suicidal ideation is a serious concern in major depressive disorder. Administering an antidepressant (A) should come after assessing safety. Encouraging group therapy (B) and assisting with ADLs (C) are important but addressing safety is the priority.