Age Specific Nursing Care Related

Review Age Specific Nursing Care related questions and content

The family of a patient with schizophrenia who has been stable for a year reports to the community mental health nurse that the patient reports feeling tense and having difficulty concentrating. He sleeps only 3 to 4 hours nightly and has begun to talk about creatures called 'volmers' hiding in the warehouse where he works and undoing his work each night. This information most likely suggests:

  • A. medication nonadherence.
  • B. a need for psychoeducation.
  • C. the chronic nature of his illness.
  • D. relapse of his schizophrenia.
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: relapse of his schizophrenia. The patient is displaying symptoms such as feeling tense, difficulty concentrating, disturbed sleep, and delusional thoughts about creatures hiding in his workplace. These symptoms indicate a return of psychotic features characteristic of schizophrenia, suggesting a relapse. This is supported by the patient's history of schizophrenia and the sudden onset of symptoms after a period of stability. Medication nonadherence (choice A) could be a possible cause, but the patient's symptoms are more indicative of a relapse. While psychoeducation (choice B) is important, the patient's current symptoms require immediate attention for relapse management. The chronic nature of his illness (choice C) is a general characteristic of schizophrenia and does not explain the current symptoms.