When a client with borderline personality disorder makes a threat to harm another person, what should the nurse do first?

When a client with borderline personality disorder makes a threat to harm another person, the most appropriate action is to notify the client's care team of the threats against the partner. This step is crucial because it ensures that all relevant healthcare professionals are aware of the potential risk, allowing them to collaborate on an immediate and effective response to manage the situation and ensure safety.

Timely communication within the care team is essential when dealing with any threats of harm, as it allows for a unified approach to assess the level of risk and implement strategies to protect both the client and others who may be in danger. It also enables the team to evaluate the need for interventions, such as increased supervision, medication adjustments, or a change in the treatment plan, to address the underlying issues contributing to the threat.

Other actions, such as documenting the threat or providing one-on-one supervision, are important but come after ensuring that the team is informed. Documentation serves a different purpose of tracking and recording the client's behavior, while supervision may follow if an immediate risk is determined. Reassuring the client is more about emotional support than addressing safety concerns and does not directly respond to the severity of making a threat. Prioritizing communication with the care team underscores the importance of addressing safety and collaborating effectively within