Nokea
A patient has not come out of her room for breakfast. The nurse finds the patient moving restlessly about her room in a disorganized manner. The patient is talking to herself, and her verbal responses to the nurse are nonsensical and suggest disorientation. The nurse notices that the patient's skin is hot and dry, and her pupils are somewhat dilated. All these symptoms are significant departures from the patient's recent presentation. The patient is likely experiencing ______, and the nurse should ______.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: anticholinergic toxicity. The patient's symptoms align with this diagnosis due to the disorganized behavior, nonsensical speech, disorientation, hot and dry skin, dilated pupils, and recent presentation changes. Anticholinergic toxicity can cause confusion, delirium, hyperthermia, and dilated pupils. Checking vital signs and preparing to use a cooling blanket are appropriate actions to manage the symptoms.
Choice B (relapse of psychosis) is incorrect because the symptoms are not typical of a psychotic relapse. Choice C (neuroleptic malignant syndrome) is incorrect as the symptoms do not completely align with this syndrome, which typically includes muscle rigidity and autonomic dysfunction. Choice D (agranulocytosis) is incorrect because it presents with low white blood cell count and not the symptoms described in the scenario.