A 34-year-old male admitted with catatonic schizophrenia has been ...

[RODY.ELKHALIL]

A 34-year-old male admitted with catatonic schizophrenia has been mute and motionless for sev-eral days while at home prior to admission. He still appears stuporous in the hospital. Which nursing intervention would be an initial priority?
 
  1. Orienting the client to the unit
  2. Assessing the client for physical problems
  3. Establishing a nonthreatening relationship
  4. Reinforcing reality with the client

Question 2

A community mental health nurse receives a new client for his caseload. The diagnosis of the client is residual schizophrenia. Documentation states that the client has a number of negative symptoms.
 
  Which symptom would the nurse expect to assess in the client?
  1. Bizarre, somatic delusions
  2. Disorganized speech pattern
  3. Catatonic posturing
  4. Emotional blunting

[ebenov]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: 2
Clients who are mute and motionless and inattentive to environmental stimuli are at risk for a number of physical problems. Further, they are unable to communicate existing problems. The nurse must make thorough and astute assessments before creating plans to meet the client's needs. 1. A client who is stuporous may not be able to attend to information given about unit rules and protocols. 3. This is an important intervention but not the priority according to Maslow's hierarchy. 4. Because the client is mute, one can only suspect lack of reality orientation. While an appropriate intervention, it is not the priority according to Maslow's hierarchy.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: 4
Blunted affect is considered a negative symptom. The other symptoms would be classified as positive symptoms.

[RODY.ELKHALIL]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[elyse44]

Excellent