Author Question: A male patient becomes verbally aggressive and insists the nurse is poisoning him as she attempts to ... (Read 63 times)

geodog55 · **on:** Jul 24, 2018

A male patient becomes verbally aggressive and insists the nurse is poisoning him as she attempts to administer haloperidol (Haldol). Which action will the nurse take?

a. Support the patient's decision to refuse the medication.
b. Discreetly ask an assistant to put the medication in the patient's food.
c. Firmly redirect the patient to take the medication.
d. Speak privately with the patient and reinforce medication action.

Question 2

Which type of adverse effects is present when a patient displays prolonged tonic contractions of the tongue, oculogyric crisis, and torticollis?

a. Dystonic reactions
b. Pseudoparkinsonism
c. Akathisia
d. Tardive dyskinesia

CAPTAINAMERICA · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 24, 2018

Answer to Question 1

ANS: C
During episodes of acute psychosis, the patient is out of touch with reality and often does not understand the need for medication in stabilizing his or her condition. Target symptoms such as agitation, suspicion, and paranoia are common. Health care providers must be supportive yet firm in their expectations. An open and direct manner in handling patients who are highly suspicious is critical. Delusions should not be supported. The patient is not competent to determine his need for medication. It is dishonest to hide medication in a patient's food and destroys a trusting relationship. Reasoning with the patient is unlikely to change his mind; he needs external structure for making decisions when he is aggressive and paranoid.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: A
Dystonic reactions are the first extrapyramidal symptoms to occur when a patient is taking antipsychotic agents. Dystonias are spasmodic movements of muscle groups such as tongue protrusion, rolling back of the eyes (oculogyric crisis), jaw spasms (trismus), or neck torsion (torticollis). Pseudoparkinsonism is characterized by tremor and rigidity. Akathisia is characterized by subjective feelings of anxiety and restlessness, accompanied by pacing and the inability to remain in one place for extended periods. Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by persistent involuntary hyperkinetic movements.