Question

A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which of the following clients should a nurse consider for referral to an assertive community treatment (ACT) group?

A. A client in an acute care mental health facility who has fallen several times while running down the hallway.
B. A client who lives at home and keeps forgetting to come in for a scheduled monthly antipsychotic injection for schizophrenia.
C. A client in a day treatment program who reports increasing anxiety during group therapy.
D. A client in a weekly grief support group who reports still missing a deceased partner who has been dead for 3 months.

Answer 1

The client that should be considered for referral to an ACT group is one who has difficulties remembering to attend appointments for antipsychotic injections, suggesting a need for comprehensive community support and treatment adherence assistance.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client who should be referred to an assertive community treatment (ACT) group is B. A client who lives at home and keeps forgetting to come in for a scheduled monthly antipsychotic injection for schizophrenia. ACT is designed to provide comprehensive, community-based psychiatric treatment, rehabilitation, and support to persons with serious and persistent mental illness. This type of treatment includes a combination of psychosocial treatments, such as psychotherapy and medication management. It is often indicated for clients who have difficulty adhering to treatment regimens or who require frequent intervention to avoid hospitalization.

Clients in acute care facilities like the one described in option A typically receive inpatient treatment and are not in the community setting that ACT serves. For a client experiencing anxiety in a day treatment program (option C) or a client in a grief support group who is mourning (option D), other supportive interventions or therapies may be more appropriate than ACT.