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 is displaying symptoms such as restlessness, disorganized behavior, nonsensical verbal responses, disorientation, hot and dry skin, and dilated pupils, which are indicative of anticholinergic toxicity.
Step-by-step rationale:
1. Restlessness and disorganized behavior are common symptoms of anticholinergic toxicity.
2. Nonsensical verbal responses and disorientation are also typical signs of anticholinergic toxicity.
3. Hot and dry skin can be caused by decreased sweating due to anticholinergic effects.
4. Dilated pupils are a classic sign of anticholinergic toxicity.
5. Checking vital signs and preparing to use a cooling blanket is the appropriate immediate action to manage anticholinergic toxicity.
Summary of other choices:
- B: Relapse of psychosis does not explain the physical symptoms like dilated pupils and hot/dry skin.
- C: Neuroleptic malignant syndrome presents with