A nurse in a psychiatric unit is admitting a client who has self-inflicted cuts on their forearms. Which of the following is a priority response by the nurse?

A. "Tell me why you hurt yourself.": Asking for reasons at admission can feel interrogative and may increase defensiveness or distress. Understanding triggers is important later, but immediate priorities focus on safety and risk assessment rather than detailed exploration of behavior. Timing matters in therapeutic communication. B. "Who can we call to support you?": Identifying supports is valuable once immediate safety is established. Without first assessing suicidal ideation, the nurse may miss an urgent risk requiring heightened observation or intervention. Support planning follows, not precedes, safety screening. C. "Do you have thoughts of suicide?": Directly assessing suicidal ideation is essential when self-inflicted injury is present. This question determines immediate risk, level of observation, and need for urgent interventions. Clear, direct inquiry is evidence-based and does not increase self-harm risk. D. "What coping methods help you when you feel bad?": Exploring coping strategies supports long-term management and recovery. However, it does not establish current lethality risk or intent, which is the priority during admission with active self-injury. Safety assessment must come first.