Betty, a 52-year-old female who divorced her husband a year ago, is brought to the hospital. The client’s adult daughter reports that her mother has refused to get out of bed, eat, or bathe for three days. Betty is diagnosed with major depression on admission. Which of the following questions asked by the admitting nurse is the most appropriate?
Explanation
Answer: C - The most appropriate question to ask a client with major depression during the first meeting is: “How do you feel about your life after the divorce?” The nurse must first determine the client’s perceived thoughts, feelings, and problems. The other items are not therapeutic. Why questions place the client in a defensive position. Asking the client for solutions to problems, such as in B, is not within the scope of nursing. Clients with major depression find it difficult to focus and identify problems, so D is not therapeutic.
