A male patient becomes verbally aggressive and insists the nurse is poisoning him as she attempts to administer haloperidol (Haldol). Which action will the nurse take?
a. Support the patient's decision to refuse the medication.
b. Discreetly ask an assistant to put the medication in the patient's food.
c. Firmly redirect the patient to take the medication.
d. Speak privately with the patient and reinforce medication action.
ANS: C
During episodes of acute psychosis, the patient is out of touch with reality and often does not understand the need for medication in stabilizing his or her condition. Target symptoms such as agitation, suspicion, and paranoia are common. Health care providers must be supportive yet firm in their expectations. An open and direct manner in handling patients who are highly suspicious is critical. Delusions should not be supported. The patient is not competent to determine his need for medication. It is dishonest to hide medication in a patient's food and destroys a trusting relationship. Reasoning with the patient is unlikely to change his mind; he needs external structure for making decisions when he is aggressive and paranoid.
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