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 A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
Ideas of reference involve the belief that external events, objects, or people have a specific and unusual significance directly related to oneself. In this scenario, the client with schizophrenia believes that the group's laughter is directed at them, indicating an exaggerated sense of personal relevance in the situation.
Choice B rationale:
Erotomania is characterized by the delusional belief that someone, usually of higher social status, is in love with the individual. This choice is not applicable to the situation described, where the client's reaction is centered around perceived mockery rather than romantic interest.
Choice C rationale:
Grandeur involves inflated feelings of importance, power, knowledge, or identity. It does not align with the situation where the client perceives ridicule and responds defensively to the group's laughter.
Choice D rationale:
Flight of ideas is a thought disorder characterized by rapid and unconnected shifts in thoughts, often associated with mania. It is not relevant to the client's reaction to the group's laughter.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale:
When dealing with an angry and aggressive client, using clarification is an essential communication technique. It involves asking open-ended questions to better understand the patient's emotions and concerns, which can help defuse the situation and provide insight into the underlying issues.
Choice B rationale:
Maintaining constant eye contact can be interpreted as confrontational or aggressive behavior, potentially escalating the client's aggression. It's important to maintain a respectful distance and avoid behaviors that could exacerbate the situation.
Choice C rationale:
Moving the patient to a private area is a reasonable approach if the environment is contributing to the patient's agitation. However, the primary concern should be the safety of both the patient and the staff. Privacy can be important, but it shouldn't compromise safety.
Choice D rationale:
Speaking to the patient with an authoritative voice and asking "why" questions can escalate the situation further. It may come across as confrontational and provoke a defensive reaction from the patient. Open-ended questions that encourage the patient to express their feelings can be more effective in de-escalation.
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