Question

Difficulty: EasyCrisis Intervention

A nurse is initiating care for a client who is experiencing an acute situational crisis. Arrange the following nursing actions in the correct chronological order of priority, from first to last.

  1. 1Assess the client for lethality and ensure immediate safety.
  2. 2Establish rapport and build a therapeutic relationship.
  3. 3Identify the specific precipitating event that caused the crisis.
  4. 4Develop an action plan with the client to restore functioning.

Answer

The correct sequence is to first assess for lethality, then establish rapport, next identify the precipitating event, and finally develop an action plan.
In crisis intervention, the nurse must follow a structured approach. The highest priority is always ensuring the safety of the client and others by assessing lethality. Once immediate safety is established, the nurse rapidly builds a therapeutic relationship. With rapport established, the nurse can effectively and safely assess the precipitating event. Finally, the nurse and client collaborate to develop an action plan to restore pre-crisis functioning.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Prioritize immediate safety.
Assess the client for lethality and ensure immediate safety.
Safety is the fundamental first step in any crisis situation to prevent self-harm or harm to others.
2
Build trust.
Establish rapport and build a therapeutic relationship.
Effective assessment and planning cannot occur without a foundation of trust and a therapeutic connection.
3
Assess the root cause.
Identify the specific precipitating event that caused the crisis.
Understanding the specific trigger is necessary to help the client process the event and identify appropriate coping strategies.
4
Collaborate on a solution.
Develop an action plan with the client to restore functioning.
Planning is the final step to empower the client and provide a clear path to resolving the crisis.

Key Concept

Crisis Intervention Prioritization
Estimated Time:45s
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