A nurse is assisting in a group therapy meeting and is sharing a humorous story unrelated to anyone in the group.
When the group laughs at the story, a client who has schizophrenia jumps up and runs out while yelling “You are all making fun of me!” Which of the following behaviors is this client displaying?
Ideas of reference.
Grandeur.
Somatic delusion.
Erotomania.
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale:
Ideas of reference are a type of delusion in which a person believes that unrelated events, objects, or actions in the environment have personal significance or meaning specifically directed towards them. In this case, the client with schizophrenia misinterpreted the group's laughter as mockery directed specifically at them, even though the story was unrelated to them.
Here's a detailed explanation of why the other choices are incorrect: B. Grandeur:
Grandiosity involves an inflated sense of self-importance, power, or identity. It's not evident in this scenario, as the client isn't expressing beliefs of exceptional abilities or status. C. Somatic delusion:
Somatic delusions focus on bodily functions or sensations, such as believing organs are rotting or insects are crawling under the skin. The client's outburst isn't related to bodily concerns. D. Erotomania:
Erotomania is a delusion where a person believes someone of higher status is in love with them. It's not applicable in this situation as the client's belief isn't about romantic interest.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Hemoglobin (Hgb) of 11 g/dL is slightly below the normal range for adult females (12-16 g/dL) but is not considered a critical value.
It may indicate mild anemia, which is common in bulimia nervosa due to factors such as poor nutrition and blood loss from self-induced vomiting. However, it would not typically be the most urgent finding requiring immediate intervention.
Choice B rationale:
Potassium of 2.8 mEq/L is significantly below the normal range (3.5-5.0 mEq/L) and is considered a critical value, indicating severe hypokalemia.
Hypokalemia is a potentially life-threatening electrolyte imbalance that can lead to cardiac arrhythmias, muscle weakness, respiratory failure, and even death.
It is a common complication of bulimia nervosa due to excessive vomiting and/or laxative abuse, which can lead to significant potassium loss.
Therefore, this finding would be the nurse's priority, necessitating immediate intervention to correct the hypokalemia and prevent potentially life-threatening complications.
Choice C rationale:
Serum chloride of 96 mEq/L is slightly below the normal range (98-106 mEq/L) but is not considered a critical value.
It may be associated with hypokalemia, as chloride and potassium are often lost together in conditions like bulimia nervosa.
However, it would not typically be the most urgent finding requiring immediate intervention.
Choice D rationale:
Serum amylase of 240 units/L is elevated above the normal range (30-110 units/L) but is not considered a critical value.
It may indicate inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can be a complication of bulimia nervosa due to recurrent vomiting and/or alcohol abuse.
However, it would not typically be the most urgent finding requiring immediate intervention, especially in comparison to severe hypokalemia.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The correct answer is Choice C.
Choice A rationale: While acknowledging the client's experience is important, this statement does not immediately address the content of the hallucinations, which could be crucial for assessing the client's safety.
Choice B rationale: Asking how often the client hears the voices is useful information for later, but it is not the immediate priority when first addressing auditory hallucinations.
Choice C rationale: Asking what the voices are telling the client is the priority. This helps the nurse assess if the hallucinations include commands or harmful content, which is essential for determining the client's immediate safety and risk of self-harm or harm to others.
Choice D rationale: Explaining that the voices are part of the client's illness can be useful for long-term understanding, but it does not address the immediate need to assess the content of the hallucinations.
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