護理師照護一位憂鬱症病人，該病人剛開始對抗憂鬱藥物有反應。此時最關鍵的評估為何？
A nurse is caring for a client with major depressive disorder who has started responding to antidepressant medication. Which assessment is most critical at this time?
- AAssessing the client's energy level and appetite評估病人的體力與食慾
- BEvaluating the client for increased risk of suicide✓ 正解評估病人自殺風險是否增加
- CConfirming the client's compliance with the medication確認病人對藥物的服從性
- DMonitoring for common side effects like dry mouth監測口乾等常見副作用
當憂鬱症病人的情緒或能量開始改善時，自殺風險反而增加。這是因為病人可能仍有自殺意念，但現在有了執行計畫所需的體力與能量。在重度憂鬱期，病人往往因極度無力而無法採取行動。護理師必須密切監測病人的自傷意圖，特別是在治療初期的「能量回升期」。
As a client with major depressive disorder begins to respond to antidepressants, their energy levels often improve before their mood does, which paradoxically increases the risk of suicide because they now have the physical capacity to act on existing suicidal ideation. Therefore, evaluating for increased suicide risk is the most critical nursing assessment during this phase of treatment.
美國 NCLEX 極度重視安全性（Safety First）原則，特別是這種反直覺的風險增加點。台灣護理教育亦強調此點，但臨床監測頻率可能受人力限制。