An older adult patient was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age ...

[Wadzanai]

An older adult patient was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 18. A nurse at the outpatient medication clinic interviews this patient. Which communication strategy will be most helpful?
 
  a. Ask questions that can be answered with yes or no.
  b. Ask clear, simple questions using concrete language.
  c. Use silence often and let the patient take the lead.
  d. Use open-ended, indirect questions.

Question 2

An elderly patient brings a bag of medications to the clinic. The nurse finds a bottle labeled Ativan and one labeled lorazepam, both of which are to be taken BID. There are also bottles labeled hydrochlorothiazide,
 
  Inderal, and rofecoxib, each to be taken once daily. Which conclusion is accurate?
 
  a. Rofecoxib should not be taken with Ativan.
  b. Lorazepam interferes with the action of Inderal.
  c. The patient should not self-administer medication.
  d. Lorazepam and Ativan are the same drug, so the dose is excessive.

[jessicaduplan]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
Communication with individuals who have schizophrenia might be difficult because of the individual's various thought disorders. The nurse can be most effective by using simple language, keeping to concrete concepts, and clarifying and validating as needed. The nurse needs more information than yes or no questions will provide.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
Lorazepam and Ativan are generic and trade names for the same drug, creating an accidental misuse situation. The patient needs medication education and help with proper, consistent labeling of bottles; there is no evidence that the patient cannot self-administer medication. The other distracters are not factual statements.

[Wadzanai]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it

[Sarahjh]

Excellent