Question

A client on the psychiatric mental health unit has a care plan that includes a break for cigarettes every hour during the afternoon if the client follows the behavioral plan to attend the morning group on anger management. the client asks, "i couldn't get to my group this morning because i overslept. can i just this one time go for a cigarette now?" which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?

Answer 1

The most therapeutic response by the nurse would be a simple, "no." The care plan requires that the anger management session must be attended, with no exceptions, in order for the client to get the cigarette break. If the nurse does not tell the client, "no," then the client is essentially being rewarded for bad behavior.