A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia. The client states, "They lie about me all the time and are trying to poison my food." Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

Choice A reason:

Calling the surgeon to talk to the patient may be helpful in some cases, but it does not directly address the patient's immediate emotional needs. The surgeon can provide detailed information about the procedure, which might alleviate some fears, but this is not always the immediate solution.

Choice B reason:

Offering to call the chaplain for the patient could provide emotional and spiritual support, which is important in holistic care. However, this should be done in addition to addressing the patient's concerns about the surgery itself.

Choice C reason:

Informing the patient that the survival rate for this surgery is very high directly addresses the patient's fear about not surviving the surgery. Providing factual reassurance about the success rate can help to alleviate anxiety and is an appropriate immediate response.

Choice D reason:

Recommending analgesics only during surgery does not address the patient's expressed fear and is not an appropriate response to the emotional concern. Analgesics are for pain management and do not provide reassurance about the outcome of the surgery.

Choice A reason: This response acknowledges the client's feelings without agreeing with the delusion or challenging their reality, which can help in building trust and rapport.

Choice B reason: Asking "Why do you think you are being lied about and poisoned?" could potentially reinforce the delusion and lead the client to further justify their beliefs.

Choice C reason: Directly telling the client they are mistaken can be confrontational and may damage the therapeutic relationship.

Choice D reason: Asking "Who is lying about you and trying to poison you?" can validate the delusion and is not a therapeutic response.