A nurse is caring for a client who reports feelings of hopelessness after being diagnosed with a serious illness. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

Choice A reason: Informing the client about ways to manage their feelings is supportive but not the immediate priority. Before offering coping strategies, the nurse must assess for safety. If the client is experiencing suicidal ideation, interventions must focus on preventing harm before addressing emotional management. Choice B reason: Documenting the client’s concerns is important for continuity of care, but documentation is not the first action. The nurse must prioritize immediate assessment of risk to ensure client safety. Documentation follows after appropriate interventions have been initiated. Choice C reason: Asking the client if they are having thoughts of self-harm is the correct first action. Feelings of hopelessness are a major risk factor for suicide. Directly assessing for suicidal ideation ensures that the nurse can determine the level of risk and implement urgent safety measures if needed. This aligns with the principle of prioritizing safety before other interventions. Choice D reason: Assisting the client in identifying their support system is helpful for long-term coping and resilience. However, this step comes after assessing immediate risk. If the client is suicidal, support system identification alone would not adequately address the urgent safety concern.