Your bipolar patient approaches you and says, "I will be running this hospital someday. I know I can change everything." What is the best intervention?
A.
Orient the patient by telling her that this would require multiple educational degrees that she does not have.
B.
Ask the patient why she thinks she can do that.
C.
Redirect the patient to what is going on around her now.
D.
Contact the psychiatrist immediately.
ANS: C
Rather than challenge the patient's thinking or overreacting, it is best to acknowledge what she said and then distract her to more reality-based thoughts.
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