Clinical Nurse Leader Practice Exam

When dealing with a patient admitted for suicide risk, which action is most appropriate for a CNL?

1. Call to have a screen placed on the window

2. Call dietary to have only plastic utensils delivered on meal trays

3. Move the patient close to the nursing desk for more frequent monitoring

4. Order a psych consult

The correct answer is: Order a psych consult

The most appropriate action for a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) dealing with a patient admitted for suicide risk involves ordering a psychiatric consult. This approach ensures that the patient receives an expert assessment and intervention from specialized mental health professionals. A psychiatric consult can lead to a tailored treatment plan that directly addresses the patient's mental health needs, allowing for a comprehensive approach to care while also ensuring the patient's safety. Considering the context of patient safety and mental health management, a psychiatric consult lays the foundation for a continuous evaluation of the patient's condition, diagnosis, and potential treatment options. This collaborative effort is critical in effectively managing a patient's risk of self-harm. It facilitates interdisciplinary care, making use of the specialized skills of mental health practitioners, which is an essential aspect of a CNL's role in improving the quality of patient outcomes. While other actions listed, such as moving the patient closer to the nursing desk or having plastic utensils delivered, may contribute to immediate safety measures, they do not address the root of the problem—the patient's mental health. These alternatives might be considered as part of a broader safety protocol, but they lack the depth of intervention that a psychiatric consult provides. In the context of suicide risk, immediate and comprehensive assessment by a mental health professional is categorically the