A nurse is in the day room of an acute care mental health facility with a group of clients who are watching television.

Suddenly, one of the clients jumps up screaming and runs out of the room.

What should the nurse do next?

Ask the group what they think about the client’s behavior.

Stay with the group and ask another client to go and check on the situation.

Follow the client to determine the cause of the behavior.

Ignore the incident since it is an attention-seeking behavior.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Choice A rationale:

Asking the group what they think about the client's behavior is not appropriate for several reasons. It could violate the client's confidentiality, it could create a sense of judgment or stigma among the group members, and it is unlikely to provide accurate or helpful information about the cause of the behavior. The nurse's primary responsibility is to the client who is experiencing distress, not to gather opinions from others.

Choice B rationale:

Staying with the group and asking another client to check on the situation is also not appropriate. It is the nurse's responsibility to assess and address the client's behavior, not to delegate this task to another client. This could potentially put the other client at risk, as they may not have the training or skills to handle the situation effectively. Additionally, it could create a sense of division or lack of support within the group.

Choice D rationale:

Ignoring the incident is never appropriate, as it could potentially endanger the client or others. It is important to remember that all behaviors have meaning, and even attention-seeking behaviors can be a sign of underlying distress. The nurse needs to assess the situation to determine the cause of the behavior and provide appropriate interventions.

Choice C rationale:

Following the client to determine the cause of the behavior is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take. This allows the nurse to assess the client's safety, provide support, and intervene as necessary. It also demonstrates to the client that the nurse is concerned and willing to help. Key considerations for the nurse:

Safety: The nurse's primary concern is always the safety of the client, themselves, and others. It's crucial to assess for any potential risks of harm and take appropriate precautions.

Assessment: Careful observation and assessment of the client's behavior, including verbal and nonverbal cues, can provide valuable insights into the underlying causes.

Communication: Establishing a calm, supportive, and non-judgmental communication with the client is essential to gain their trust and cooperation.

Intervention: The nurse may need to employ various interventions, such as de-escalation techniques, distraction, or medication, depending on the assessment and the client's needs.

Documentation: Thorough documentation of the incident, the nurse's assessment, and interventions is important for continuity of care and communication with other healthcare professionals.

Nursing Test Bank

Test Bank #1: RN Pharmacology Exams Test Bank #2: RN Medical-Surgical Exams Test Bank #3: RN Fundamentals Exams Test Bank #4: RN Maternal-Newborn Exams Test Bank #5: RN Anatomy and Physiology Exams Test Bank #6: RN Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Test Bank #7: RN Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Test Bank #9: RN Adult Health Test Bank #10: RN Dosage Calculation Test Bank #11: RN Community Health Exams Test Bank #12: RN Psychology Exams Test Bank #13: RN Nursing Care Of Children Test Bank #14: RN Foundations of Nursing Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Exam #1: RN Comprehensive predictor 2023 proctored exam Exam #2: Ati rn vati comprehensive predictor proctored exam Exam #3: Ati Rn Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam 2023 Exam #4: Rn Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Proctored Exam - St. Joseph Exam #5: RN Comprehensive Predictor Proctored Exam (National U CA San Diego) Exam #6: Ati rn comprehensive predictor 2023 retake proctored exam Exam #7: RN Hesi Exit Proctored Exam Exam #8: Hesi RN Exit proctored exam Exam #9: Hesi rn exit proctored exam Exam #10: Hesi Rn compass exit B proctored exam

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Answer and explanation

Choice A rationale:

Impaired judgment is a cognitive symptom of schizophrenia, not a positive symptom. It involves difficulties with decisionmaking, problem-solving, and understanding consequences. While it's a significant feature of schizophrenia, it doesn't reflect an excess or distortion of normal functions, which is the hallmark of positive symptoms.

Choice B rationale:

Dysphoria refers to a depressed mood or a state of unhappiness and dissatisfaction. It's a negative symptom of schizophrenia, characterized by a decrease or absence of normal functions. It's not considered a positive symptom as it doesn't involve an excess or distortion of normal processes.

Choice C rationale:

Disorganized speech is a hallmark positive symptom of schizophrenia. It involves significant disruptions in the way a person speaks and communicates. It can manifest in several ways, including: Derailment: Abrupt shifts in topic without logical connection

Tangentiality: Responding to questions in irrelevant or oblique ways

Incoherence: Speech that is fragmented and difficult to understand

Loose associations: Combining words or phrases in a way that lacks logical sense

Neologisms: Creating new words or phrases that have meaning only to the speaker

Word salad: Severely disorganized speech that is essentially incomprehensible

Disorganized speech is considered a positive symptom because it reflects an excess or distortion of normal speech processes. It's a core feature of schizophrenia and often has a significant impact on communication and social functioning.

Choice D rationale:

Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure. It's a negative symptom of schizophrenia, characterized by a decrease or absence of normal emotional responses. It's not considered a positive symptom as it doesn't involve an excess or distortion of normal processes.

A. “I know you hear the voices, but I do not.” B. “How often do you hear the voices?” C. “What are the voices telling you?” D. “The voices are part of your illness.”

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

The correct answer is Choice C.

Choice A rationale: While acknowledging the client's experience is important, this statement does not immediately address the content of the hallucinations, which could be crucial for assessing the client's safety.

Choice B rationale: Asking how often the client hears the voices is useful information for later, but it is not the immediate priority when first addressing auditory hallucinations.

Choice C rationale: Asking what the voices are telling the client is the priority. This helps the nurse assess if the hallucinations include commands or harmful content, which is essential for determining the client's immediate safety and risk of self-harm or harm to others.

Choice D rationale: Explaining that the voices are part of the client's illness can be useful for long-term understanding, but it does not address the immediate need to assess the content of the hallucinations.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A nurse is in the day room of an acute care mental health facility with a group of clients who are watching television. Suddenly, one of the clients jumps up screaming and runs out of the room. What should the nurse do next?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is caring for a client who has depression. After two days of treatment, the nurse notices that the client is suddenly more active and there are no longer signs of a depressive state. Which of the following interventions should the nurse recommend for the plan of care?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing auditory hallucinations. What should the nurse say first?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is reviewing the admission laboratory values for a client who has a history of bulimia nervosa. Which of the following findings is the nurse’s priority?

A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who has schizophrenia and experiences paranoia with aggressive behavior. Which of the following interventions should the nurse recommend to be included in the plan of care?

A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a female client who is prescribed chlorpromazine. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?

A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and notices changes in the client’s behavior. Which of the following behaviors is the nurse’s priority to report to the provider?

A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has a prescription for lorazepam 0.5 mg. Which of the following findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?

A nurse in an acute care mental health facility is caring for a client who begins to yell and scream at staff members. Which of the following actions is the nurse’s priority?

A nurse is conversing with a client diagnosed with schizophrenia. Suddenly, the client expresses fear, stating, “I’m scared. Can you hear that? The voices are instructing me to do awful things.” Which of the following responses from the nurse would be suitable?

A nurse in an acute care mental health facility is caring for a client who has major depression and states, “Everyone will be much better off when I’m gone.” Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?

A nurse is in the day room of an acute care mental health facility with a group of clients who are watching television.

Suddenly, one of the clients jumps up screaming and runs out of the room.

What should the nurse do next?