A charge nurse overhears another nurse talking with a client who has schizophrenia. Suddenly the client yells, "I am the devil! I am God! Open the gate for me!" Which of the following replies by the nurse requires intervention?

"There is no gate for me to open."

"I don't understand. Can you tell me what that means?"

"Are you saying that you are both good and bad?"

"It sounds frightening to feel like both God and the devil at the same time."

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A Reason:
This response may invalidate the client's experience and can be perceived as dismissive of the client's delusional thoughts. It does not acknowledge the client's current reality or provide any therapeutic communication. An intervention is required to guide the nurse in offering a more empathetic and validating response.

Choice B Reason:
Asking the client to clarify what they mean encourages communication and shows a willingness to understand the client's perspective. It is a therapeutic approach that can help the nurse gain insight into the client's thoughts and provide appropriate support.

Choice C Reason:
This response could potentially validate the client's delusional thinking by engaging in the content of the delusion. It might lead to further discussion about the delusion rather than redirecting the client to reality, which could be counterproductive.

Choice D Reason:
Expressing empathy by acknowledging that the client's feelings must be frightening is a therapeutic response. It validates the client's emotions without confirming the delusional content and can help the client feel understood and supported.

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason:
While a mental health unit that includes milieu therapy may focus on stabilizing clients, it is not limited to those in an acute phase of mental illness. Milieu therapy is a comprehensive approach that can benefit individuals at various stages of their treatment.

Choice B reason:
Milieu therapy is not necessarily less intensive nor does it focus solely on one psychiatric illness or substance abuse disorder. It is a versatile treatment method that can be applied to a range of conditions and is integrated into the daily life of the unit.

Choice C reason:
This choice accurately reflects the essence of milieu therapy. It is a therapeutic approach where the environment is used as an integral part of treatment. The goal is to create a stable, adaptive reality through routines, boundaries, and open communication, fostering a sense of safety and support for therapeutic change.

Choice D reason:
Milieu therapy is not exclusively focused on long-term care but is adaptable to the needs of clients, whether they require short-term stabilization or long-term treatment. It is designed to help individuals learn healthier ways of thinking and behaving within a supportive community setting.

A. Associative looseness B. Tangentiality C. Neologism D. Circumstantiality E. Choice C reason:

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason:

Associative looseness refers to a disorganized thought process where connections between ideas are unclear or illogical. The use of the word "flakala" does not demonstrate a loose association between ideas but rather the creation of a new word.

Choice B reason:

Tangentiality occurs when a person goes off on a tangent and does not return to the original topic. In this case, the client is not going off on a tangent but is repeatedly using a made-up word, which is indicative of neologism.

Choice C reason:

Neologism is the creation of new words that others may not understand. The client's use of "flakala" fits this definition, as it appears to be a word created by the client that is not part of standard language¹. This can be a sign of disorganized thinking, where the client's internal thoughts do not align with conventional language patterns.

Choice D reason:

Circumstantiality involves providing unnecessary detail that makes communication less efficient but eventually returns to the original point. The client's statement does not include unnecessary details; it is the repetition of a newly created word, suggesting neologism.

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A charge nurse overhears another nurse talking with a client who has schizophrenia. Suddenly the client yells, "I am the devil! I am God! Open the gate for me!" Which of the following replies by the nurse requires intervention?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse has described the behavioral health unit being based on milieu therapy to a client. The client asks, "How is a unit that has milieu therapy different from other hospital units?" Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse overhears a client diagnosed with schizophrenia talking to herself. The client keeps stating, "The flakalas are here. The flakalas are here." The nurse should recognize the client's use of the word "flakala" as an example of which of the following alterations in speech?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who states, "I have got to get out of this hospital! They have found my address and are coming for my family!" The nurse responds, "Don't worry, no one will harm your family." Which of the following types of communication breakdown does the nurse's response represent?

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