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Tomas is a 21-year-old male with a recent diagnosis of schizophrenia. Tomas's nurse recognizes that self-medicating with excessive alcohol is common in this disease and can co-occur along with:
- A. Generally good health despite the mental illness.
- B. An aversion to drinking fluids.
- C. Anxiety and depression.
- D. The ability to express his needs.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Individuals with schizophrenia often turn to excessive alcohol consumption as a way to manage symptoms of anxiety and depression. This maladaptive coping mechanism can exacerbate the challenges associated with schizophrenia and may hinder effective treatment outcomes. Recognizing the presence of anxiety and depression alongside alcohol abuse is crucial for providing holistic care and support to individuals with schizophrenia.
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Which intervention focuses on managing a common characteristic of major depressive disorder associated with the older population?
- A. Conducting routine suicide screenings at a senior center.
- B. Identifying depression as a natural, but treatable outcome of aging.
- C. Identifying males as at a greater risk for developing depression.
- D. Stressing that most individuals experience only a single episode of major depression in a lifetime.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
When should healthcare professionals be most alert to the possibility of communication errors resulting in harm to the patient?
- A. Change of shift reports
- B. Admission interviews
- C. One-to-one conversations with patients
- D. Conversations with patient families
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Healthcare professionals should be most alert to the possibility of communication errors resulting in harm to the patient during change of shift reports. This is a critical time when information is transferred between healthcare providers, and any errors in communication during this handover can lead to adverse outcomes for the patient.
What principle about patient-nurse communication should guide a nurse's fear of saying the wrong thing to a patient?
- A. Patients tend to appreciate a well-meaning person who conveys genuine acceptance, respect, and concern for their situation.
- B. Patients are more interested in conversing with you than in hearing your perspective, making offense unlikely.
- C. Considering the patient's background, the likelihood of the comment causing harm is minimal.
- D. Individuals with mental illness often possess a heightened capacity for forgiveness.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Patients value interactions with healthcare providers who express genuine acceptance, respect, and concern for their well-being. By focusing on conveying these qualities, a nurse can help alleviate fears of saying the wrong thing as patients appreciate the sincerity and empathy in the communication. This approach fosters trust and a positive therapeutic relationship, enhancing the effectiveness of patient-nurse communication.
A male patient calls to tell the nurse that his monthly lithium level is 1.7 mEq/L. Which nursing intervention will the nurse implement initially?
- A. Reinforce that the level is above the therapeutic range.
- B. Instruct the patient to hold the next dose of medication and contact the prescriber.
- C. Advise the patient to go to the hospital emergency room immediately.
- D. Inform the patient about the possibility of seizures and appropriate precautions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A lithium level of 1.7 mEq/L is above the therapeutic range, indicating a potential risk of toxicity. The initial nursing intervention should be to instruct the patient to hold the next dose of medication and promptly contact the prescriber for further guidance and management. This action aims to prevent adverse effects and ensure the patient's safety by addressing the elevated lithium level appropriately.
When using therapeutic communication with a withdrawn patient who has major depression, an effective method of managing the silence is to:
- A. Engage in a quiet meditation
- B. Ask simple questions even if the patient will not answer
- C. Use the technique of making observations
- D. Simply sit quietly and leave when the patient falls asleep
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Using the technique of making observations is an effective method of managing silence when communicating with a withdrawn patient who has major depression. This approach can encourage the patient to engage and feel understood without the pressure to respond, fostering a therapeutic connection and helping the patient open up at their own pace.