A patient is exhibiting auditory hallucinations in addition to ...

[jenna1]

A patient is exhibiting auditory hallucinations in addition to being forgetful and easily confused. Which diagnosis does the nurse base this patient's interventions on?
 
  a. Social isolation
  b. Deficient knowledge
  c. Situational low self-esteem
  d. Impaired cognitive functioning

Question 2

A patient experiences intrusive, insulting auditory hallucinations. Which independent be-havioral technique can the nurse teach the patient to employ when the voices are trouble-some?
 
  a. Introduce a distraction like reading.
  b. Use positive talk to offset the insults.
  c. Sing or whistle to compete with the voices.
  d. Increase the daily dose of an antipsychotic medication.

[pocatato]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Schizophrenia may alter cognitive functioning, including memory, retention, attention, and the processing of incoming information. Altered cognition accounts for many of the symp-toms mentioned in the scenario. Knowing that cognition is altered, the nurse can adjust plans to take the deficits into account. The patient is not exhibiting symptoms that would warrant any of the other options.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
This action provides an alternative to listening to the voices and gives the patient a sense of control. The patient should not adjust medication independently. Reading will not be partic-ularly effective, because the voices are uncontested in a quiet atmosphere. Positive talk is generally used to positively affect self-esteem.

[jenna1]

Thank you

[pocatato]

Happy to help you