Question

A client has severe mental illness. The nurse should know that a priority action for involuntary hospitalization of the client diagnosed with severe mental illness involves which of the following goals?

A. Return to independent functioning
B. Protection from harm to self or others
C. Elimination of findings
D. Reorientation to reality

Answer 1

The priority action for involuntary hospitalization of a client with severe mental illness is to ensure their protection from self-harm or harm to others, with immediate safety as the main concern.

Step-by-step explanation:

The priority action for involuntary hospitalization of a client diagnosed with severe mental illness is protection from harm to self or others. While neuroleptic drugs may improve the overall function and responsiveness of the individual, and a high housing retention rate indicates positive outcomes for individuals after treatment, the immediate concern necessitating involuntary hospitalization typically centers on safety. The ultimate therapeutic goals, such as returning to independent functioning, eliminating findings, and reorienting to reality, are secondary to ensuring the immediate physical safety of the client and people around them.