A nurse is caring for a patient with a mental health disorder. Which approach best supports therapeutic care?
Adopt a neutral attitude when providing care
Check on the patient throughout the day for brief interactions
Discuss the patient’s feelings with an authorized individual
Share personal mental health information with the patient
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A reason: A neutral attitude in psychiatric nursing maintains professional boundaries and objectivity, preventing bias or emotional entanglement. This fosters a therapeutic environment, allowing patients to express feelings without judgment, aligning with principles of therapeutic communication and mental health care, making this the correct choice.
Choice B reason: Brief check-ins, while useful, may not provide the depth needed for therapeutic care in mental health settings. Consistent, meaningful engagement is more effective for building trust and addressing complex emotional needs, making this approach less optimal compared to maintaining neutrality.
Choice C reason: Discussing a patient’s feelings with another individual risks breaching confidentiality unless authorized by the patient or legally required. This violates ethical standards in mental health care, which prioritize privacy, making this approach non-therapeutic and incorrect for supporting patient care.
Choice D reason: Sharing personal mental health information blurs professional boundaries, potentially shifting focus from the patient’s needs to the nurse’s experiences. This undermines therapeutic communication and objectivity, risking patient trust and care quality, making this approach inappropriate and incorrect.
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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: Encouraging the patient to argue with auditory hallucinations can escalate distress and reinforce engagement with the voices, which is non-therapeutic in schizophrenia management. Evidence-based practice emphasizes reducing focus on hallucinations through coping strategies, not confrontation, making this choice incorrect.
Choice B reason: Teaching distraction techniques, like listening to music, is an evidence-based non-pharmacological intervention for managing auditory hallucinations. It helps shift attention away from the voices, reducing their intensity and promoting coping, aligning with psychiatric nursing principles, making this the correct choice.
Choice C reason: Administering an additional dose of antipsychotic medication without prescriber consultation violates nursing scope of practice and safety protocols. It risks toxicity and side effects, such as extrapyramidal symptoms, making this choice unsafe and incorrect for managing hallucinations.
Choice D reason: Advising the patient to ignore hallucinations is oversimplified and often ineffective, as it dismisses the distress caused by symptoms. This approach lacks therapeutic support and does not provide practical coping strategies, making it less appropriate than teaching distraction techniques.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Zolpidem, a nonbenzodiazepine sedative, affects the central nervous system, causing sedation and impaired coordination, particularly in the elderly. Age-related declines in metabolism and balance increase fall risk, a critical nursing consideration. Monitoring mobility and ensuring safety measures are essential to prevent injuries, making this the correct choice.
Choice B reason: While zolpidem may cause daytime drowsiness, this is not the primary nursing consideration compared to fall risk in the elderly. Drowsiness is a general side effect, but the elderly’s heightened vulnerability to falls due to sedation and impaired coordination takes precedence, making this choice less critical.
Choice C reason: Zolpidem has a lower dependence risk than benzodiazepines, and dependence is not inevitable. This assumption overstates the risk and is not the primary nursing consideration. Fall prevention, especially in vulnerable populations like the elderly, is more urgent due to immediate safety concerns, making this choice incorrect.
Choice D reason: Zolpidem induces sedation rapidly, typically within 15–30 minutes, not requiring 4 weeks. This choice is factually incorrect, as prolonged use is not necessary for efficacy. The primary concern is immediate side effects like falls, not a delayed onset, making this an invalid nursing consideration.
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