Which client should a psychiatric nurse prioritize for assessment among several clients?

Prioritizing client assessment in psychiatric nursing often revolves around the immediacy of risk and potential for harm. A client experiencing alcohol withdrawal represents a critical situation as withdrawal can lead to serious medical complications, including seizures and delirium tremens, which can be life-threatening. This requires immediate monitoring and intervention to ensure the safety of the client.

The other clients present varying levels of concern but do not indicate an immediate life-threatening situation. The client with anorexia nervosa who is gaining weight may suggest progress in treatment, yet their condition still requires careful monitoring, though it does not pose the same immediate risk as untreated alcohol withdrawal. The client with schizophrenia who is suspicious of staff may indicate a need for support but is historically less acute than serious withdrawal symptoms. The anxious client stable enough for discharge represents a situation where assessment is important but lacks immediacy compared to the risks associated with alcohol withdrawal.

Thus, the correct choice emphasizes the urgency and necessity for prompt reassessment and intervention for the client experiencing alcohol withdrawal in a psychiatric setting.