In planning care for a client whose spouse recently died, which priority intervention should be included?

• A. Encouraging the client to forget the loss quickly.
• B. Scheduling sleep therapy without assessing coping.
• C. Assessing the client's risk for violence toward self and others.
• D. Ignoring the client's expressed feelings.

Answer: (C)

Safety and protection from harm come first when a spouse has just died. Assessing the client’s risk for violence toward self and others identifies whether there is potential for self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or aggressive acts, so you can implement urgent safety measures, arrange support, and monitor the situation closely. Grief can trigger intense emotions, depression, or impulsivity, making this risk assessment a critical initial step in planning care. The other options overlook safety and the current emotional state: encouraging the client to forget the loss quickly disregards grieving processes; scheduling sleep therapy without first assessing coping ignores distress and possible safety issues; ignoring expressed feelings invalidates the client’s experience and can worsen risk.