HESI Mental Health 2023 Related

Review HESI Mental Health 2023 related questions and content

A client with schizophrenia is admitted to the psychiatric care unit for aggressive behavior, auditory hallucinations, and potential for self-harm. The client has not been taking medications as prescribed and insists that the food has been poisoned and refuses to eat. What intervention should the RN implement?

  • A. Assure the client that all food served in the hospital is safe to eat.
  • B. Tell the client that irrational thinking is a symptom of schizophrenia.
  • C. Obtain an order for a tube feeding for the client.
  • D. Provide the client with food in unopened containers.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct intervention is to provide the client with food in unopened containers. This approach can help alleviate the client's fear of poisoning and encourage eating. Choice A may not address the client's specific fear and may be perceived as dismissive. Choice B, while providing information about symptoms of schizophrenia, does not address the immediate issue of the client's refusal to eat due to the fear of poisoning. Choice C of obtaining an order for tube feeding is premature and invasive before exploring less restrictive options.