A patient expresses that someone wants to hurt him. What is the appropriate nursing assessment?

A patient expresses that someone wants to hurt him. What is the appropriate nursing assessment?

• A. Ideas Reference
• B. Persecution
• C. Grandeur
• D. Delusion

Answer: (B)

When a patient expresses that someone wants to hurt them, it is crucial to assess for signs of persecution. This term refers to the belief that one is being targeted or harassed by others, often perceived as a real threat. The concerns raised by the patient indicate a possible paranoia or a feeling of being watched or harmed, which aligns directly with persecutory beliefs. Understanding this context is vital in nursing assessments as it guides the healthcare provider in determining the patient's safety and the level of their mental health needs. Evaluating the extent of the patient’s feelings of being persecuted can help in formulating a care plan to address their safety and emotional support. The other terms, while related to mental states, do not specifically fit the scenario at hand. Ideas of reference pertain to the belief that common elements of the environment are directly related to oneself but do not necessarily imply harm. Grandeur relates to an inflated sense of worth, power, or knowledge, which is irrelevant to the concern of being hurt. Delusion is the broader category of a false belief that persists despite evidence to the contrary, but in this context, the specific nature of what the patient is experiencing aligns most closely with persecution.

When a patient expresses that someone wants to hurt them, it is crucial to assess for signs of persecution. This term refers to the belief that one is being targeted or harassed by others, often perceived as a real threat. The concerns raised by the patient indicate a possible paranoia or a feeling of being watched or harmed, which aligns directly with persecutory beliefs.

Understanding this context is vital in nursing assessments as it guides the healthcare provider in determining the patient's safety and the level of their mental health needs. Evaluating the extent of the patient’s feelings of being persecuted can help in formulating a care plan to address their safety and emotional support.

The other terms, while related to mental states, do not specifically fit the scenario at hand. Ideas of reference pertain to the belief that common elements of the environment are directly related to oneself but do not necessarily imply harm. Grandeur relates to an inflated sense of worth, power, or knowledge, which is irrelevant to the concern of being hurt. Delusion is the broader category of a false belief that persists despite evidence to the contrary, but in this context, the specific nature of what the patient is experiencing aligns most closely with persecution.