A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia reveals to the nurse that ...

[cnetterville]

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia reveals to the nurse that voices have warned of danger and adds, They're so loud they frighten me. Do you hear them? The nurse's best initial response would be:
 
  a. I know these voices are very real to you, but I don't hear them..
  b. Don't worry. You're safe in the hospital. I won't let anything happen to you..
  c. Tell me more about the voices. Are they men or women? How many are there?
  d. What do you do in order to keep yourself occupied so you don't hear the voices?

Question 2

When teaching the orientation portion of a psychiatric nursing course, which statement would the instructor be most likely to make to the students?
 
  a. There is one approved theoretical framework for psychiatric nursing practice..
  b. Psychiatric nursing has yet to be recognized as a core mental health discipline..
  c. Contemporary practice of psychiatric nursing is primarily focused on inpatient care..
  d. The psychiatric nursing patient may be an individual, a family, a group, or even a community..

[parshano]

Answer to Question 1

A
When asked, the nurse should point out that he or she is not experiencing the same stimuli but should accept the reality of the hallucinations for the patient. Being able to communicate with the nurse at the time the hallucinations are occurring is helpful to the patient. Interactive discussion of hallucinations is a vital element in the development of reality-testing skills.

Answer to Question 2

D
Psychiatric nursing is concerned with individuals, families, groups, and entire communities. The other statements listed are false.