What is the primary nursing care intervention for an adolescent patient diagnosed with schizophrenia?

Choice A rationale
Being defensive is a nontherapeutic communication technique, but it doesn’t seem to apply in this context. The nurse’s question doesn’t suggest that they are being defensive.
Choice B rationale
Using stereotyped responses can be a nontherapeutic communication technique, but it doesn’t seem to apply in this context. The nurse’s question doesn’t suggest that they are using stereotyped responses.
Choice C rationale
Challenging is the most appropriate answer. The nurse’s question could be seen as challenging the client’s statement about their plan to kill themselves.
Choice D rationale
Failure to explore the client’s point of view is a nontherapeutic communication technique, but it’s not the most fitting description for the scenario. The nurse’s question doesn’t necessarily indicate a failure to explore the client’s point of view. Explore

Choice A rationale
Actively seeking is a stage of chemical dependency where the individual actively seeks out the substance. In this scenario, the teenager is not just seeking heroin, but is using it to prevent withdrawal symptoms, which suggests a more advanced stage of dependency.
Choice B rationale
Experimentation is the initial stage of chemical dependency where the individual first tries the substance. However, the teenager in this scenario is past the experimentation stage as she is using heroin regularly to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Choice C rationale
Burnout is a stage of chemical dependency characterized by physical and mental exhaustion due to prolonged substance use. While the teenager may be experiencing burnout, the scenario specifically mentions her use of heroin to prevent withdrawal symptoms, which is more indicative of the preoccupation stage.
Choice D rationale
Preoccupation is a stage of chemical dependency where the individual is consumed by thoughts of the substance and uses it to prevent withdrawal symptoms. The teenager’s belief that she cannot cope without heroin and her use of it to prevent withdrawal symptoms align with this stage.