Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice 6th Edition - Schizophrenia and Related Disorders: Nursing Care of Persons with Thought Disorders Related

Review Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice 6th Edition - Schizophrenia and Related Disorders: Nursing Care of Persons with Thought Disorders related questions and content

A client with schizophrenia is prescribed clozapine because other prescribed medications have been ineffective. After teaching the client and family about the drug, the nurse determines that the teaching was successful when they state which of the following?

  • A. He needs to have an electrocardiogram periodically when taking this drug.
  • B. We?ll need to make sure that he has his blood count checked at least weekly.
  • C. He might develop toxic levels of the drug if he smokes cigarettes.
  • D. He needs to watch to make sure that he doesn?t lose too much weight.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Clozapine (B) requires weekly white blood cell counts due to the risk of agranulocytosis. Electrocardiograms (A) are not routine, smoking (C) affects clozapine metabolism but not toxicity directly, and weight loss (D) is unlikely (weight gain is more common).