The nurse is assessing a client's suicide potential. Which question is most important for the nurse to ask the client?

When assessing for suicide risk, the nurse must evaluate whether the client has a suicide plan. Clients who have a definitive plan pose a greater risk for suicide. Options 3 and 4 may also be questions that the nurse would ask, but they are not the most important. The nurse avoids the use of the word why when communicating with a client. The use of this word may place the client on the defensive; additionally, the client may not even know the reason that he or she wants to hurt himself or herself.