A patient with a history of depression presents to the emergency department expressing thoughts of self-harm. The patient does not have a specific plan but feels overwhelmed and hopeless. Which of the following actions is the best initial response by the nurse?
Establish a therapeutic dialogue by expressing empathy and acknowledging the patient's feelings.
Immediately arrange for a psychiatric consultation without further discussion.
Isolate the patient in a private room to prevent any harm to others.
Start discussing potential discharge plans to keep the patient hopeful.
The best initial action is to begin a therapeutic dialogue that conveys empathy and acknowledges the patient's feelings. Building trust encourages the patient to share more information, which is essential for accurate suicide-risk assessment and safety planning. Arranging a psychiatric consultation is appropriate afterward, but without first engaging the patient, important assessment data may be missed. Discussing discharge too early can heighten hopelessness, and isolating the patient may feel punitive and impede open communication.
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BCEN CEN
Mental Health Emergencies
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