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Which symptoms are expected for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia who has disorganization?
- A. Extremes of motor activity, from excitement to stupor
- B. Socially withdrawal and ineffective communication
- C. Severe anxiety with ritualistic behavior
- D. Highly suspicious, delusional behavior
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patients with disorganization demonstrate the most regressed and socially impaired behaviors. Communication is often incoherent, with silly giggling and loose associations predominating. Highly suspicious, delusional behavior relates more to paranoia. Extremes of motor activity, from excitement to stupor, relate to catatonia. Severe anxiety and ritualistic behaviors relate to obsessive-compulsive disorder.
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A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has been stable for a year; however, the family now reports the patient is tense, sleeps 3 to 4 hours per night, and has difficulty concentrating. The patient says, 'Demons are in the basement and they can come through the floor.' The nurse can correctly assess this information as what?
- A. Need for psychoeducation
- B. Medication nonadherence
- C. Chronic deterioration
- D. Relapse
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Signs of potential relapse include feeling tense, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping, increased withdrawal, and increased bizarre or magical thinking. Medication noncompliance may not be implicated. Relapse can occur even when the patient is regularly taking his or her medication. Psychoeducation is more effective when the patient's symptoms are stable. Chronic deterioration is not the best explanation.
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, 'I eat skiller. Tend to end. Easter. It blows away. Get it?' Select the nurse's best response.
- A. Nothing you are saying is clear.
- B. Your thoughts are very disconnected.
- C. Try to organize your thoughts, and then tell me again.
- D. I am having difficulty understanding what you are saying.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: When a patient's speech is loosely associated, confused, and disorganized, pretending to understand is useless. The nurse should tell the patient that he or she is having difficulty understanding what the patient is saying. If a theme is discernible, ask the patient to talk about the theme. The incorrect options tend to place blame for the poor communication with the patient. The correct response places the difficulty with the nurse rather than being accusatory.
A nurse at the mental health clinic plans a series of psychoeducational groups for persons diagnosed with schizophrenia. Which two topics would take priority?
- A. How to complete an application for employment?
- B. The importance of correctly taking your medication.
- C. How to dress when attending community events?
- D. How to give and receive compliments?
- E. Ways to quit smoking.
Correct Answer: B,E
Rationale: Stabilization is maximized by the adherence to the antipsychotic medication regimen. Because so many patients with schizophrenia smoke cigarettes, this topic relates directly to the patients' physiological well-being. The other topics are also important but are not priority topics.
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has taken a first-generation antipsychotic medication for a year. Hallucinations are less intrusive, but the patient continues to have apathy, poverty of thought, and social isolation. The nurse expects a change to which medication?
- A. Haloperidol
- B. Olanzapine
- C. Chlorpromazine
- D. Diphenhydramine
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic medication that targets both positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Haloperidol and chlorpromazine are first-generation (conventional) antipsychotic agents that target only positive symptoms. Diphenhydramine is an antihistamine.
An acutely violent patient diagnosed with schizophrenia receives several doses of haloperidol. Two hours later the nurse notices the patient's head rotated to one side in a stiffly fixed position; the lower jaw is thrust forward, and the patient is drooling. Which intervention by the nurse is indicated?
- A. Administer diphenhydramine 50 mg IM from the PRN medication administration record.
- B. Reassure the patient that the symptoms will subside. Practice relaxation exercises with the patient.
- C. Give trihexyphenidyl 5 mg orally at the next regularly scheduled medication administration time.
- D. Administer atropine sulfate 2 mg subcutaneously from the PRN medication administration record.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Diphenhydramine, trihexyphenidyl, benztropine, and other anticholinergic medications may be used to treat dystonias. Swallowing will be difficult or impossible; therefore, oral medication is not an option. Medication should be administered immediately; therefore, the intramuscular route is best. In this case, the best option given is diphenhydramine.