A client is diagnosed with schizophrenia. A physician orders haloperidol (Haldol), 50 mg bid: benztropine (Cogentin), 1 mg prn: and zolpidem (Ambien). 10 mg HS. Which client behavior would warrant the nurse to administer benztropine?

A. Your child has a chemical imbalance of the brain, which leads to altered thoughts: This is the correct answer. It acknowledges the role of a chemical imbalance in the brain contributing to altered thoughts and hallucinations in the context of schizophrenia.

B. Your child's hallucinations are caused by medication interactions: This explanation is not likely in this context. While medications can have side effects, command hallucinations in schizophrenia are primarily related to the underlying disorder.

C. Your child has too little serotonin in the brain causing delusions and hallucinations: While serotonin is involved in mood regulation, attributing hallucinations solely to low serotonin levels oversimplifies the complex neurobiology of schizophrenia.

D. Your child's abnormal hormonal changes have precipitated auditory hallucinations: Hormonal changes are not considered a primary cause of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia. The emphasis is on neurobiological and genetic factors influencing brain function.

A. Use clear, calm statements and a confident physical stance:

This is the most appropriate choice. Clear and calm communication, along with a confident physical stance, can help to de-escalate the situation. It demonstrates assertiveness and can potentially prevent further escalation of violence.

B. Provide objective evidence that violence is unwarranted:

While providing objective evidence may be helpful in some situations, individuals with paranoid personality disorder may not respond well to attempts to prove that their perceptions are unwarranted. It could potentially escalate the situation.

C. Empathize with the client's paranoid perceptions:

While empathy is important in communication, empathizing with paranoid perceptions in a way that validates or reinforces them may not be the best approach. It could inadvertently validate the client's distorted thoughts and potentially escalate the situation.

D. Initially restrain the client to maintain safety:

Physical restraint should be a last resort and used only when the safety of the client or others is at immediate risk. Initial restraint can escalate aggression and may not be the most appropriate intervention in the early stages of a violent episode.