A nurse is caring for patients receiving clozapine, lithium, fluoxetine, and venlafaxine. Which patient should the nurse be most alert for problems associated with fluid and electrolyte imbalance?

Choice A reason: Describing consequences of actions indicates cognitive awareness and problem-solving skills, but it does not directly reflect a healthy self-concept. Self-concept involves self-perception, esteem, and a balanced view of strengths and limitations. This choice focuses on behavioral outcomes, not internal self-worth, making it an inadequate indicator of the goal.

Choice B reason: Perceiving oneself as always capable of achieving goals suggests overconfidence or grandiosity, which can indicate a maladaptive self-concept, potentially linked to narcissistic traits. A healthy self-concept involves realistic self-assessment, acknowledging both strengths and limitations. This choice reflects an unbalanced view, making it incorrect for the goal of a healthy self-concept.

Choice C reason: Seeking help when needed demonstrates a healthy self-concept, reflecting self-awareness, humility, and confidence in recognizing personal limitations. This aligns with psychological theories of self-esteem, emphasizing balanced self-perception and social interdependence. It indicates emotional maturity and adaptive coping, making this the correct choice for achieving the goal.

Choice D reason: Meeting own needs without regard for others’ rights suggests selfishness or lack of empathy, indicative of a maladaptive self-concept. A healthy self-concept includes respect for social boundaries and reciprocity, which this choice violates. It reflects a self-centered approach, not a balanced or healthy self-perception, making it incorrect.

Choice A reason: Comparing the patient’s problems to others minimizes their experience, a non-therapeutic technique. It dismisses feelings, hindering trust and open communication, contrary to psychiatric nursing principles that emphasize validation, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B reason: Asking the patient to suggest solutions encourages self-reflection and empowerment, a therapeutic technique. It fosters autonomy and problem-solving, aligning with patient-centered care in mental health nursing, making this a correct choice for therapeutic communication.

Choice C reason: Expressing understanding and inviting further discussion validates the patient’s feelings, fostering trust. This empathetic, open-ended approach is a hallmark of therapeutic communication in psychiatric care, promoting a safe space for exploration, making this a correct choice.

Choice D reason: Suggesting the patient forget their problems is dismissive and non-therapeutic. It invalidates feelings and discourages exploration, contrary to psychiatric nursing goals of fostering insight and trust, making this choice incorrect for therapeutic communication.