Author Question: Which behavior engaged in by a patient diagnosed with both schizophrenia and hepatitis C presents ... (Read 21 times)

torybrooks · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

Which behavior engaged in by a patient diagnosed with both schizophrenia and hepatitis C presents the community mental health nurse with the greatest need to share information ordinarily protected by the patient's right to confidentiality?

a. Engaging in unprotected sex
b. Wearing the uniform of a police officer
c. Expressing a real hatred for the government
d. Stealing clothing and food from stores in the neighborhood

Question 2

Regarding freedom-of-choice care systems, what information must the patient receive regarding the criteria for terminating treatment of a patient with mental health disorders?

a. Patient's inability to pay for the services
b. Aggressive behavior on the part of the patient
c. Facility finds it uneconomical to provide the treatment
d. Patient's noncompliance with an appropriate treatment plan

akpaschal · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
Legal and ethical issues continually challenge community mental health nurses. Nurses need to be aware of state laws that mandate patient confidentiality while sharing necessary infor-mation about a patient. For example, a nurse who learns this patient is engaging in high-risk sexual behavior needs to report such findings to the appropriate professionals in order to pro-tect the public. The other options, although problematic, do not have this level of seriousness regarding the good of the general public.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: D
Freedom-of-choice systems have experienced some common problems with patient care re-sulting in many agencies choosing not to develop treatment options for severe mental disor-ders because they disagree with the premise of freedom of choice. Both the provider and the patient have the freedom to make decisions; however, treatment providers in these systems have the right to refuse to treat anyone whose symptoms make that person resistant to accept treatment. The remaining options are not considered as criteria for treatment termination re-garding freedom of choice.