A nurse is caring for an adolescent who has a history of violent behavior and has asked the nurse to keep confidential information about the desire to kill several classmates and a school teacher. Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate to give?

A. Telling the client to share the information only with the psychiatrist dismisses the nurse’s responsibility and misses an opportunity to address a serious safety concern. B. The nurse is legally and ethically obligated to report threats of harm to others. While confidentiality is important, it does not apply when there is a risk of harm to the client or others. The nurse must inform the appropriate team members to ensure safety and appropriate intervention. C. While parents are typically involved in the care of minors, the priority in this scenario is the imminent threat to others, which requires action beyond simply informing parents. D. Maintaining confidentiality in this case would be inappropriate and unsafe, as the client has disclosed a potential for serious harm to others.