The parents of an adopted child schedule an appointment at a psychiatric clinic, and one parent says, "We need to speak to a psychiatrist about our adopted daughter. Could you please get one for us?" Which intervention by the nurse would be therapeutic?

• A. We will arrange an immediate psychiatric consultation.
• B. The therapists here will see you together so you can discuss your concerns.
• C. We cannot discuss the matter without the patient’s consent.
• D. The doctors here feel that clients are best served when I conduct the initial assessment, after which the psychiatrist will see you with complete information.

Answer: (D)

The important idea here is that the nurse acts as a coordinator who starts with an intake to gather essential information before involving a psychiatrist. For a minor, parents or guardians are responsible for decisions, and an initial, structured assessment helps ensure that the child’s concerns are understood in context and that the psychiatrist has a complete, accurate picture from the outset.

This approach is therapeutic because it respects boundaries, builds trust, and reduces redundancy and confusion. By conducting the initial assessment, the nurse collects relevant history, current behavioral and emotional concerns, family dynamics, past interventions, and parental observations. The psychiatrist can then see the child with a clear, consolidated understanding, which supports a more precise evaluation and a timely, appropriate treatment plan. It also sets expectations for the family about how care will unfold and ensures consent and information sharing are handled properly.

Opening with an immediate psychiatric consultation or arranging a joint session with therapists without first gathering this information could overlook important context and overwhelm the family with multiple clinicians too soon. While involving therapy for the family can be valuable, it wouldn’t address the immediate need for a coherent intake process. And confidentiality considerations for a minor are different from adults, but guardians can provide consent for assessments and ongoing care, so stating that nothing can be discussed without the patient’s consent would be inaccurate in this context.

So, the nurse initiating an initial assessment and then coordinating with the psychiatrist to see the child with complete information is the most therapeutic course.