A patient’s mother shares with a nurse that the patient has been sleeping more than...

Expressions ofhopelessness, fatigue, and unbearable painare red flags forsuicidal ideation, particularly in pediatric patients. Immediate action is needed toassess suicide riskto ensure patient safety.

“In pediatric patients, behavioral cues such as excessive sleep, hopelessness, and verbal expressions of despair should trigger immediate suicide screening and risk assessment protocols.”

(Referenced from CCRN Pediatric – Direct Care: Psychosocial and Emotional Assessment in Critically Ill Children)

This is apriority safety concernand must be addressed before any further medical assessments or reviews.