NCLEX RN Exam Review Answers Related

Review NCLEX RN Exam Review Answers related questions and content

A client with schizophrenia seems to stop focusing during a conversation with a nurse and begins looking at the ceiling and talking to themselves. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

  • A. Stop the interview at this point and resume later when the client is better able to concentrate
  • B. Ask the client, 'Are you seeing something on the ceiling?'
  • C. Tell the client, 'You seem to be looking at something on the ceiling. I see something there, too.'
  • D. Continue the interview without commenting on the client's behavior
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: When a client with schizophrenia experiences a break in reality like staring at the ceiling and talking to themselves, the nurse should ask directly about the hallucination, as stated in choice B. By doing so, the nurse can assess the situation, identify the client's needs, and evaluate any potential risk for injury. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Stopping the interview (choice A) may not address the immediate concern of the hallucination. Providing false reassurance (choice C) or ignoring the behavior (choice D) does not actively address the client's altered perception of reality.