A patient with chronic schizophrenia had a stroke involving the hippocampus. The patient will be discharged on low doses of haloperidol. The nurse will need to individualize the patient's medication teaching by:

Question

a. Including the patient's caregiver in the education
b. Being careful to stress the importance of taking the medication as prescribed
c. Providing the education at a time when the patient is emotionally calm and re-laxed
d. Encouraging the patient to crush or dissolve the medication to help with swal-lowing

Answer 1

ANS: A
The hippocampus plays a major role in short-term memory and, hence, in learning. Taking the medication as prescribed and providing the education at a time when the patient is calm and relaxed is information or considerations that all patients should be given. The medication does not necessarily need to be crushed or dissolved since the stroke would not have caused difficulty with swallowing.