Author Question: The physician has prescribed haloperidol (Haldol) for the client with schizophrenia. When planning ... (Read 29 times)

meagbuch · **on:** Jul 22, 2018

The physician has prescribed haloperidol (Haldol) for the client with schizophrenia. When planning care, which of the following would the nurse select as a priority outcome for the client?

1. The client will be compliant with taking the medication as prescribed.
2. The client will report symptoms of restlessness.
3. The client will consume adequate fluids and a high-fiber diet.
4. The client will report a decrease in auditory hallucinations.

Question 2

A 75-year-old client with cardiac disease describes a decline in the amount of sleep he gets and difficulty falling asleep at night. Which of the following should the nurse consider is occurring with this client?

1. Signs of anxiety and depression
2. Normal signs of aging
3. Normal signs of cardiac disease
4. Normal signs of respiratory disease

ebe · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

1. The client will be compliant with taking the medication as prescribed.

Rationale:
Medication compliance is a priority for clients with schizophrenia. Relapse of symptoms will occur without the medications. The symptom of restlessness is known as akathisia. This would be important to report, but is not the priority outcome. Adequate fluids and fiber will decrease the side effect of constipation, but this is not the priority outcome. A decrease in auditory hallucinations is an expected effect of haloperidol (Haldol), but this is not the priority outcome.

Answer to Question 2

1. Signs of anxiety and depression

Rationale:
Drastic changes in sleep patterns may be early signs of underlying anxiety and depression and should be investigated and not written off as normal changes of aging. Pain, respiratory disease, and cardiac disease can also interfere with sleep, but sleep pattern disturbances need to be assessed further to determine if there is an underlying psychiatric problem.