A nurse in an emergency department is collecting data from a client who has a personality disorder and reports that they recently used illicit drugs. Which of the following screening tools should the nurse use to determine if the client has recently used an illicit substance?

Choice A reason: A toxicology test, typically performed via urine or blood sampling, is the definitive objective screening tool for identifying the presence of specific chemical metabolites in the body. In an emergency setting, this provides immediate physiological data regarding recent substance ingestion that subjective self-reporting might lack. Choice B reason: The Eysenick Personality Inventory is a psychological instrument designed to measure specific personality traits, such as extraversion and neuroticism, based on a biopsychosocial model. It is a diagnostic tool for temperament and character assessment and has no utility in detecting the physiological presence of illicit drugs. Choice C reason: The Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire is a self-report tool used specifically to screen for the presence of personality disorders as defined by the DSM. While the client in the prompt has a personality disorder, this tool assesses long-term behavioral patterns rather than acute substance use or intoxication. Choice D reason: The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is an extensive standardized psychometric test of adult personality and psychopathology. It is used for clinical diagnosis and chronic mental health assessment; however, it is not designed to provide real-time information regarding recent chemical exposure or drug use.