Which client has the greatest need for special mouth care?

The directive takes effect only if the client is incapable of personally making health care decisions. This statement demonstrates an understanding of health care proxy and care because it reflects the definition of a health care proxy as a person who can make health care decisions for the client only when the client is unable to communicate these themselves.

Choice A is wrong because the daughter does not have the authority to make all of the client’s health care decisions, only those that the client has not specified in advance or that are not covered by the living will.

Choice B is wrong because no extraordinary means, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, will be initiated only if the client has expressed this preference in a living will or a do-not-resuscitate order.

Choice D is wrong because the closest relative, such as the spouse, does not have to be consulted before the daughter in making health care decisions, unless the client has designated them as an alternate proxy.

This statement suggests that the client needs further teaching because haloperidol is a medication that needs to be taken regularly and consistently to prevent relapse of symptoms related to schizophrenia. Stopping the medication abruptly can cause withdrawal effects and worsen the condition.

Choice B is wrong because it shows that the client understands the potential interaction between alcohol and haloperidol, which can increase the risk of sedation, drowsiness, and low blood pressure.

Choice C is wrong because it indicates that the client has realistic expectations about the onset of action of haloperidol, which can take several days or weeks to show improvement of symptoms.

Choice D is wrong because it demonstrates that the client is aware of the possible side effect of photosensitivity caused by haloperidol, which can make the skin more prone to sunburn and damage.

Haloperidol is an antipsychotic drug that works by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. It is used to treat symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and disorganized thinking in schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. The normal dosage range for haloperidol is 0.5 to 20 mg per day, depending on the severity of the condition and the response to treatment. Some of the common side effects of haloperidol include extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS), such as muscle stiffness, tremors, restlessness, and abnormal movements; neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), which is a rare but serious condition characterized by fever, muscle rigidity, altered mental status, and autonomic instability; and tardive dyskinesia (TD), which is a chronic movement disorder that involves involuntary movements of the tongue, lips, face, and limbs. Haloperidol can also cause weight gain, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, dizziness, insomnia, and sexual dysfunction.

Haloperidol should be used with caution in patients with cardiovascular disease, liver disease, seizure disorder, diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction