A client with paranoid schizophrenia believes evil spirits are being summoned by a local minister and verbally threatens to bomb a local church.
The psychiatric nurse notifies the local minister.
The psychiatric nurse has:
Released the client's information without proper authorization.
Avoided charges of malpractice.
Demonstrated the duty to warn and protect.
Violated the patient's privacy and confidentiality.
The Correct Answer is C
Choice A rationale:
While it's true that the nurse has released the client's information without their explicit consent, this action is justified under the duty to warn and protect.
This duty supersedes the general obligation to maintain confidentiality when there's a serious and imminent threat to identifiable individuals or the public.
In this case, the client's verbal threat to bomb a local church constitutes a credible and foreseeable risk of harm, necessitating the breach of confidentiality to protect potential victims.
Choice B rationale:
Although the nurse's actions may help to avoid malpractice charges by demonstrating responsible care and adherence to ethical obligations, this is not the primary reason for notifying the minister.
The primary goal is to avert harm and fulfill the duty to warn, not to shield oneself from legal liability.
Choice C rationale:
This is the correct answer. The nurse has acted in accordance with the duty to warn and protect, which is a legal and ethical obligation in healthcare.
This duty mandates that healthcare professionals take reasonable steps to warn potential victims and protect the public when a patient communicates a serious threat of harm.
Choice D rationale:
While confidentiality is a cornerstone of healthcare ethics, it's not absolute.
The duty to warn and protect allows for limited breaches of confidentiality when necessary to prevent serious harm, as in this case.
The nurse's actions align with ethical principles and legal requirements, even though they involve disclosing confidential information.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
This response indicates anger, not denial. The client is expressing anger towards the doctor and their perceived lack of competence. While anger can be a component of the grief process, it does not specifically align with the denial phase, which is characterized by a refusal to accept the reality of a situation.
Choice B rationale:
This response indicates fatigue or depression, not denial. The client is acknowledging their physical and emotional state but is not expressing disbelief or refusal to accept their diagnosis.
Choice C rationale:
This response clearly demonstrates denial. The client is minimizing the severity of their diagnosis and attributing the doctor's statements to an ulterior motive. This is a classic example of denial, as it involves a distortion of reality to avoid facing a painful truth.
Choice D rationale:
This response indicates acceptance, not denial. The client is acknowledging the reality of their situation and expressing gratitude for the care they have received.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Antipsychotic medications are a class of drugs commonly used to treat schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. They work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. However, dopamine is also involved in motor control, and blocking its receptors can lead to extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS).
EPS are a group of movement disorders that can be caused by antipsychotic medications. They include: Akathisia: A feeling of restlessness and an inability to sit still.
Dystonia: Involuntary muscle contractions that can cause twisting or spasms.
Parkinsonism: Symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease, such as tremor, rigidity, and slowness of movement. Tardive dyskinesia: Involuntary, repetitive movements of the face, tongue, or other body parts.
The risk of developing EPS is higher with older antipsychotic medications, such as haloperidol and chlorpromazine. Newer antipsychotic medications, such as risperidone and olanzapine, are less likely to cause EPS, but they can still occur.
Clients who are taking antipsychotic medications should be monitored for EPS. If EPS develop, the medication may need to be changed or the dose reduced.
Choice B rationale:
Enzymes are not known to cause EPS. They are used to treat pancreatitis by helping the body to digest food.
Choice C rationale:
Insulin is not known to cause EPS. It is used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus by helping the body to control blood sugar levels.
Choice D rationale:
Iron supplements are not known to cause EPS. They are often taken by pregnant women to prevent iron deficiency anemia.
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