In assessing a client's safety, which factors are crucial for the nurse to evaluate?

When assessing a client's safety, evaluating suicide ideation and substance abuse is crucial. This focus is vital because both factors directly impact a client's risk level for self-harm or harm to others. Recognizing suicidal thoughts is essential for immediate intervention and management, helping to prevent potential crises. Additionally, substance abuse can exacerbate feelings of hopelessness or increase impulsivity, further heightening the risk of self-destructive behavior. Therefore, these two areas are key indicators of a client's mental health status and overall safety, making them essential components of a comprehensive safety assessment.

The other options, while relevant in other contexts, do not provide the same level of insight into immediate safety concerns. Incentives and diet preferences relate more to client motivation and nutrition rather than safety. Blood pressure and heart rate assess cardiovascular stability, which is important for physical health but not directly tied to safety in terms of mental health. Family history of illness can provide context for hereditary conditions but does not specifically address the client's current risk factors or safety concerns.