An adolescent who was arrested a month ago for gang-related activities has a court order to attend weekly group therapy sessions at the mental health clinic. Today the adolescent's mother calls the clinic nurse to report that her child became angry last night and put a fist through a window. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to implement?

A. Tell the mother to describe her feelings of helplessness to her child: Encouraging the mother to express her helplessness directly to the adolescent may escalate tension and could inadvertently reinforce aggressive behavior. This intervention does not address immediate safety concerns. B. Advise the mother to call the police if violent behavior occurs again: Ensuring the safety of the adolescent and others is the highest priority. Recommending immediate involvement of law enforcement if violence recurs provides a protective measure and reinforces boundaries, helping prevent injury or escalation of aggressive behavior. C. Refer the mother for psychiatric evaluation for anxiety and depression: While maternal mental health support is important, it does not address the immediate risk posed by the adolescent’s violent behavior. Referral for evaluation is secondary to ensuring safety. D. Reinforce the need for the adolescent to attend group therapy sessions: Encouraging participation in therapy supports long-term behavior management but does not mitigate immediate danger or protect household members from potential harm. Immediate safety interventions take precedence.