An outpatient diagnosed with schizophrenia attends programming at a community mental health center. The patient says, "I threw away the pills because they keep me from hearing God." Which response by the nurse would most likely to benefit this patient?
a. "You need your medicine. Your schizophrenia will get worse without it."
b. "Do you want to be hospitalized again? You must take your medication."
c. "I would like you to come to the medication education group every Thursday."
d. "I noticed that when you take the medicine, you have been able to hold a job you wanted."
ANS: D
The patient appears not to understand that he has an illness. He has stopped his medication because it interferes with a symptom that he finds desirable (auditory hallucinations—the voice of God). Connecting medication adherence to one of the patient's goals (the job) can serve to motivate the patient to take the medication and override concerns about losing the hallucinations. Exhorting a patient to take medication because it is needed to control his illness is unlikely to be successful; he does not believe he has an illness. Medication psychoeducation would be appropriate if the cause of nonadherence was a knowledge deficit.
You might also like to view...
The nurse explains that the spinal cord extends from the brainstem to the level of which vertebra?
1. Last thoracic 2. Second lumbar 3. First sacral 4. Coccygeal
What are characteristics of insulin glargine (Lantus)? (Select all that apply.)
a. It has no peak action time. b. It has a duration of 24 hours. c. It cannot be mixed with other insulins. d. It is not injectable. e. It can be inhaled.
A multipara client develops thrombophlebitis after delivery. Which of the following would alert the nurse to the need for immediate intervention?
A) Dyspnea, diaphoresis, hypotension, and chest pain B) Dyspnea, bradycardia, hypertension, and confusion C) Weakness, anorexia, change in level of consciousness, and coma D) Pallor, tachycardia, seizures, and jaundice
An elderly client, who can void only while standing and pushing upward on the vagina, is ordered a pessary. Which comment from the client indicates a need for further teaching about this device?
A) "I will remove and clean it every day." B) "I will report any signs of irritation or bleeding." C) "I should have greater ease of emptying my bladder." D) "I should report any foul odor or drainage."