Final answer:
A nursing student should use the DSM-5 to figure out which symptoms are present in a psychiatric disorder, such as substance use disorders, which feature criteria like compulsive drug use and continued use despite adverse effects.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best resource for a nursing student new to psychiatric mental health nursing to figure out which symptoms are present in a psychiatric disorder is A) DSM-5, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. This manual is crucial for clinicians and is used to diagnose individuals with various psychological disorders, including substance use disorders. It provides a comprehensive overview of criteria for specific substance use disorders and details a compulsive pattern of drug use often associated with both physical and psychological dependence.
Substance use disorders are defined by the DSM-5 as conditions in which a person persists in using substances despite experiencing significant negative consequences. The existence of a substance use disorder is indicated by behaviors such as using more of the substance than intended and the presence of a compulsive pattern of drug use.