Chapter 15 Mood Disorders.ppt

Suicide (cont’d) Nurse’s response Need for unconditional positive regard for person Avoidance of client blame Nonjudgmental approach, tone Belief that one person can make a difference in another’s life Possible devastation of staff if client commits suicide Legal and Ethical Considerations Assisted suicide as topic of national legal, ethical debate (Oregon first state to adopt assisted suicide into law) Nurse often cares for terminally or chronically ill people with poor quality of life Nurse’s role to provide supportive care for clients, family as they work through decision-making process Question Tell whether the following statement is true or false: When dealing with a client who is suicidal, the nurse needs to assume a dependent role. Answer False When dealing with a client who is suicidal, the nurse must take an authoritative role. Elder Considerations Depression common among the elderly; marked increase when elders are medically ill Psychotic features common Increased intolerance to medications ECT more commonly used for treatment; more rapid response Suicide increased among elderly Community-Based Care Nurses as first health care professionals to recognize behaviors consistent with mood disorders Successful treatment of depression in community by psychiatrists, psychiatric advanced practice nurses, primary care physicians Community-Based Care (cont’d) Bipolar disorder: referral to psychiatrist or psychiatric advanced practice nurse for treatment Mental Health Promotion Education to address stressors contributing to depressive illness Efforts to improve primary care treatment of depression Prevention and early detection, treatment for adolescents Mental Health Promotion (cont’d) Screening for early detection of risk factors Family strife Parental alcoholism or mental illness History of fighting Access to weapons in the home Self-Awareness Issues Importance of dealing with own feelings about suicide Frustration possible when working with depresse