When interviewing and assessing a 17 year old client, which finding alters the nurse to explore substance abuse with the adolescent?

When interviewing and assessing a 17 year old client, which finding alters the nurse to explore substance abuse with the adolescent?

• A. Failing grades
• B. Blood spots on clothing
• C. Absenteeism from school
• D. Long sleeved shirts in warm weather

Answer: (A)

When a teen shows a change in functioning, it signals you to explore potential underlying issues, including substance use. A noticeable drop in grades reflects impaired cognitive functioning, motivation, and consistency in studying, all of which can be affected by substances. Because school performance integrates many aspects of daily life, failing grades are a strong prompt to gently ask about alcohol or drug use,, reviews of routines, and peers in a nonjudgmental way, to understand what might be contributing to the decline. Other signs could relate to different concerns: blood spots on clothing might point to injury or abuse, long-sleeved shirts in warm weather could be an attempt to hide marks or injection sites, and absenteeism in itself is a red flag for multiple issues. Yet the direct link between declining academics and functioning makes failing grades the clearest cue to initiate a conversation about substance use with the adolescent. If you approach, keep questions open-ended and nonjudgmental to encourage honest responses and assess safety and need for further screening or intervention.

When a teen shows a change in functioning, it signals you to explore potential underlying issues, including substance use. A noticeable drop in grades reflects impaired cognitive functioning, motivation, and consistency in studying, all of which can be affected by substances. Because school performance integrates many aspects of daily life, failing grades are a strong prompt to gently ask about alcohol or drug use,, reviews of routines, and peers in a nonjudgmental way, to understand what might be contributing to the decline.

Other signs could relate to different concerns: blood spots on clothing might point to injury or abuse, long-sleeved shirts in warm weather could be an attempt to hide marks or injection sites, and absenteeism in itself is a red flag for multiple issues. Yet the direct link between declining academics and functioning makes failing grades the clearest cue to initiate a conversation about substance use with the adolescent.

If you approach, keep questions open-ended and nonjudgmental to encourage honest responses and assess safety and need for further screening or intervention.