TEST INSTRUCTIONS Read the article. The test for this CE activity is to be taken online at www.nursingcenter.com/CE/NP. Tests can no longer be mailed or faxed. You'll need to create (it's free!) and log in to your personal CE Planner account before taking online tests. Your planner will keep track of all your Lippincott Professional Development online CE activities for you. There's only one correct answer for each question. A passing score for this test is 7 correct answers. If you pass, you can print your certificate of earned contact hours and access the answer key. If you fail, you have the option of taking the test again at no additional cost. For questions, contact Lippincott Professional Development: 1-800-787-8985. Registration deadline is June 5, 2026. PROVIDER ACCREDITATION

Lippincott Professional Development will award 2.0 contact hours for this continuing nursing education activity.

Lippincott Professional Development is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

This activity is also provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number CEP 11749 for 2.0 contact hours. Lippincott Professional Development is also an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the District of Columbia, Georgia, West Virginia, New Mexico, South Carolina, and Florida, CE Broker #50-1223. Your certificate is valid in all states.

Payment: The registration fee for this test is $21.95.

Suicide among men: Risk assessment and mitigation in primary care

Learning Outcomes: Seventy-five percent of participants will be able to demonstrate competency in clinical reasoning for suicide risk assessment and mitigation in men in primary care settings by achieving a posttest score of 70% or greater.

Learning Objectives: After reading the article and completing the posttest, the participant will be able to:

Identify warning signs, risk factors, and protective factors for suicide among males. Describe how NPs can assess for suicide risk in male patients. Summarize the appropriate interventions for male patients at risk for death by suicide.

Posttest:

Case Scenario: You are an NP in a primary care office. Your next patient is Mr. K, a 45-year-old male who presents to the office for an annual visit. He has no complaints and no past medical problems. You become concerned about his risk for suicide due to his comments about feeling hopeless and unhappy following a recent divorce. He said he has been depressed because he has not been able to see his children.

As you speak with Mr. K, you take note of a comment that constitutes a warning sign for dying by suicide. Mr. K states that he gave his dog, along with most of his personal items, to a friend. is actively planning for a vacation next month with friends. has reduced his alcohol use over the past 6 months. Mr. K explains that he enjoys his job as a physical therapist. He has a strong connection with coworkers who assist him as needed. When discussing his childhood, he states that his father was physically abusive. Mr. K is at a higher risk for suicide due to his employment status as a physical therapist. connection with and outreach to coworkers. history of childhood abuse. You ask Mr. K how he deals with the recent divorce. He explains that he exercises, volunteers in his community, and prays each week in church. He states that he is a proud gun owner. Protective factors that Mr. K has that can reduce the risk of dying by suicide include his use of effective coping skills. lack of community connections. access to weapons. You assess Mr. K for suicide risk. Terminology that should be used during your assessment to reduce stigma around suicide includes suicidal gesture instead of suicidal behavior. die by suicide instead of commit suicide. failed attempt instead of suicide attempt. You use the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) tool to assess Mr. K. You know that if a patient in a primary care setting describes having active thoughts of dying by suicide in response to question #5, the best next step is to contact 911 immediately to have the patient escorted to the ED. conduct a brief follow-up safety assessment. schedule an appointment for a full mental health evaluation. You conduct a lethality assessment for Mr. K that includes asking him questions related to his past use of cigarettes or marijuana. whether he has a planned method, date, or time frame for suicide. developing a safety plan with friends/family members. You should initiate lethal means counseling with Mr. K if he has attempted suicide in the past. has no history of mental health disorders. denies suicidal ideation. For patients identified as having suicidal ideation, the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (NAASP) guidelines recommend that a primary care provider respond by assisting the patient with development of a brief safety plan. having the patient return for a visit 3 months later. sending them immediately to the ED. Mr. K states that he is currently taking tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) for migraine headache management. To reduce the risk of using medication to die by suicide, you should have Mr. K schedule a visit 6 months later to follow up with this medication. prescribe benzodiazepines to help him with his current stressors. limit his TCA prescription quantity to no more than what is needed for 2 weeks. Mr. K is hesitant about receiving specialty care for suicidal ideation. As an NP, your response is to allow Mr. K to leave the office and plan to discuss it again in 2 months. avoid discussing the topic of mental health with Mr. K since it might embarrass him. discuss with Mr. K your concern for his safety and explain your reason for referring him.