The patient is an 18-year-old college student being treated in the community mental health clinic for an adjustment disorder after receiving news of her parent’s impending divorce. While talking about her feelings, she becomes angry and starts shouting and crying. She screams, “I wish they would both die!” Which of these is the most appropriate nursing response?

Choice A reason: Encouraging the patient to talk more about anger may be therapeutic, but safety assessment must come first when violent statements are made. Choice B reason: Assessing risk of harm is the priority. The nurse must determine if the client has intent, plan, or means to act on homicidal statements. Safety overrides all other interventions. Choice C reason: Contacting parents and police is premature without assessing actual risk. Reporting without assessment could violate confidentiality and escalate the situation unnecessarily. Choice D reason: Instructing the patient not to talk that way invalidates feelings and does not address safety concerns.