A client arrives at a mental health clinic and tells a nurse they have no purpose in life. Which of the following is the nurse's priority response?

Introduction: Statements of hopelessness or lack of purpose are significant red flags for suicidal intent, requiring a direct inquiry into the client's plan and lethality to initiate appropriate protection protocols. A. Asking how long the client has felt this way is an assessment of the duration and onset of symptoms. While this information is necessary for a comprehensive psychiatric history and for determining if the condition is acute or chronic, it does not address the immediate safety risk posed by the client's statement. B. Asking "Are you thinking of harming yourself?" is the priority because it directly assesses for suicidal ideation. In psychiatric nursing, safety is always the first priority. Direct questioning is the most effective way to identify a client’s intent to end their life when they express profound hopelessness. C. Asking what kind of thoughts the client is having is an open-ended question that encourages the client to elaborate on their feelings. This is a helpful therapeutic communication technique for gathering data, but it is not specific enough to quickly identify a life-threatening intention in a high-risk client. D. Asking "Do you really think your life has no purpose?" is a non-therapeutic response that can be perceived as challenging or belittling the client's feelings. This type of questioning can cause the client to become defensive and may shut down further communication, hindering the nurse's ability to provide help.