A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with schizophrenia and is experiencing hallucinations. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Ask the client direct questions about the hallucination.
Act to the client as if the hallucination is real.
Tell the client to go to their room and they should go away.
Instruct the client to argue with the voices that are a part of the hallucination.
The Correct Answer is A
The correct answer is choice A. Ask the client direct questions about the hallucination.
Choice A rationale:
Asking direct questions about the hallucination helps the nurse understand the client’s experience and assess the content and intensity of the hallucinations. This approach also allows the nurse to provide appropriate support and interventions.
Choice B rationale:
Acting as if the hallucination is real can reinforce the client’s distorted perception of reality, which is not therapeutic. The nurse should acknowledge the client’s experience without validating the hallucination as real.
Choice C rationale:
Telling the client to go to their room and that the hallucinations should go away is dismissive and does not address the client’s immediate needs. It is important to engage with the client and provide support rather than dismiss their experience.
Choice D rationale:
Instructing the client to argue with the voices can increase the client’s distress and is not a recommended therapeutic approach. Instead, the nurse should help the client find ways to cope with and manage the hallucinations.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
The correct answer is choice B: Maintain a nonjudgmental attitude.
Choice A rationale:
Verbalize disapproval of the client's substance abuse. Expressing disapproval can create a negative environment and hinder the therapeutic relationship. Judgmental attitudes can make clients feel defensive and less likely to open up about their struggles.
Choice B rationale:
Maintain a nonjudgmental attitude. Maintaining a nonjudgmental attitude is crucial in building trust and rapport with clients. It creates an environment where clients feel safe discussing their issues without fear of criticism. A nonjudgmental attitude encourages open communication and helps the nurse gather relevant information to provide appropriate care.
Choice C rationale:
Offer sympathetic support. While offering support is important, sympathy might inadvertently convey pity or enable the client's behavior. Empathy, where the nurse understands and shares the client's feelings without judgment, is more effective in building a therapeutic relationship.
Choice D rationale:
Avoid displaying an emotional response. While it's important for the nurse to maintain professionalism, avoiding any emotional response might come across as cold or detached. Expressing appropriate empathy and emotions can actually enhance the therapeutic relationship.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
The correct answer is choice C.
Choice A rationale:
Planning a therapeutic diet is important for overall client care, but it might not be the first priority. The client's significant weight loss and distorted body image require more immediate attention to address potential underlying mental health concerns..
Choice B rationale:
Providing a structured environment is beneficial, but it might not be the first priority in this situation. The client's distorted perception of weight and significant weight loss necessitate more immediate assessment and intervention.
Choice C rationale:
Assessing the client's nutritional status is the first priority in this scenario. The client's weight loss of 11 kg (25 lb) over 3 months and belief that she is fat are indicators of a possible eating disorder. Nutritional assessment helps determine the severity of the issue and guides appropriate interventions.
Choice D rationale:
While requesting a mental health consult is important, it is not the first priority. Addressing the client's immediate physical health, which includes assessing her nutritional status and potential risk for complications related to her distorted body image, takes precedence.
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