A 17-year-old female with a self-admitted opioid addiction is seen by the nurse in a mental health clinic. Which intervention would the nurse not consider in establishing a therapeutic relationship?
assess the presence of other psychiatric disorders
Number 2 is correct.
Rationale: Attendance at all therapy sessions should be an expectation established within the confines of the therapeutic relationship. Requirement of attendance places the client in a position where failure to attend all sessions, rather than being a point for learning, becomes a mechanism for punishment. Using this approach will not assist the client in achieving the desired outcome of abstinence from drugs. Establishing a therapeutic relationship with a client who is addicted to drugs requires open, supportive communication consistent with options 1 and 3. Determining the presence of a concurrent psychiatric disorder is necessary to provide a comprehensive therapeutic approach.
