Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice 6th Edition - Caring for Persons With Co-occurring Mental Disorders Related

Review Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice 6th Edition - Caring for Persons With Co-occurring Mental Disorders related questions and content

A nurse is readmitting a client with a co-occurring diagnoses of schizophrenia and alcohol abuse who has relapsed. The client says, 'I?m just a failure. I?ll never be anything but just a drunk.' Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?

  • A. Relapse is a normal part of recovery; you can learn from this experience so it will be easier to avoid it or a similar one in the future.
  • B. Face it, you will always be an alcoholic, and relapse is inevitable because it is part of the illness.
  • C. If you didn?t have disturbed thoughts from your schizophrenia, you wouldn?t be tempted to drink.
  • D. Please clarify something for me. When you say, ?just a drunk,? what exactly are you trying to say?
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Stating that relapse is a normal part of recovery (A) is therapeutic, offering hope and framing the relapse as a learning opportunity. Option B is defeatist, option C oversimplifies the relationship between disorders, and option D avoids addressing the client?s feelings directly.