Question

A home health nurse who is visiting a client to complete a wound dressing notes that the client has a flat affect and is not as responsive as during previous visits. The nurse calls the client's primary healthcare provider for a psychiatric referral. By recognizing the signs and symptoms of possible depression, the nurse is exhibiting which concept associated with evidence-based practice?

A) Clinical decision making
B) Advocacy
C) Professional behaviors
D) Accountability

Answer 1

The nurse is demonstrating advocacy by seeking a psychiatric referral for a client who shows signs of depression, reflecting critical health theories and principles of community psychology.

Step-by-step explanation:

By recognizing the signs and symptoms of possible depression in a client and calling for a psychiatric referral, the home health nurse is exhibiting advocacy. This concept is vital in evidence-based practice, where the nurse acts on behalf of the client to ensure they receive the appropriate care and resources. This approach is aligned with the principles of community psychology, which stress the importance of adaptability, partnership, and co-creation of solutions in addressing health and social issues. The situation also reflects the application of critical theories of health, which seek to identify and rectify issues within healthcare systems to improve patient outcomes.