An involuntarily committed client is verbally abusive to the staff and repeatedly threatening to sue. The client records the full names and phone numbers of the staff. Which nursing action is most appropriate to decrease the possibility of a lawsuit?
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A
Verbally redirect the client, and then limit one-on-one interaction.
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B
Involve the hospitals security division as soon as possible.
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C
Notify the client that documenting personal staff information is against hospital policy.
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D
Continue professional attempts to establish a positive working relationship with the client.
Based on the information given, the response that addresses the question is Continue professional attempts to establish a positive working relationship with the client..
A. Verbally redirect the client, and then limit one-on-one interaction.
This might be chosen when the idea in “Verbally redirect the client, and then limit one-on-one interaction.” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
B. Involve the hospitals security division as soon as possible.
This would apply in a different scenario where the idea in “Involve the hospitals security division as soon as possible.” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
C. Notify the client that documenting personal staff information is against hospital policy.
This sounds reasonable when the idea in “Notify the client that documenting personal staff information is against hospital policy.” addresses a different mechanism or priority than the one emphasized by the stem The wording does not track the stem’s main cue, so selecting it would shift the nurse away from the most precise interpretation or priority.
D. Continue professional attempts to establish a positive working relationship with the client.
This aligns with the concept that The most appropriate nursing action is to continue professional attempts to establish a positive working relationship with the client. The involuntarily committed client should be respected and has the right to assert grievances if rights are infringed. Safe and Effective Care Environment The underlying principle in the stem is best addressed by choosing the response that is both specific to the cue provided and consistent with evidence-informed psychiatric nursing practice. From a nursing standpoint, this selection guides assessment and interventions toward what is most clinically meaningful in the moment—risk reduction, safety, accurate appraisal, and support for adaptive coping.
Conclusion
What separates the best choice from the rest is specificity: the correct option addresses the exact mechanism, stage, or principle described. The other answers relate to nearby ideas, yet they miss the question’s focal point or misapply the concept to the situation.