Question

Difficulty: MediumMental Health Concepts

A nurse in an inpatient psychiatric unit is caring for a client with schizophrenia who is actively experiencing distressing auditory hallucinations. Which of the following nursing interventions should the nurse include in the client's plan of care? (Select all that apply.)

  1. Ask the client directly what the voices are saying.Answer
  2. Acknowledge the client's fear while stating that the nurse does not hear the voices.Answer
  3. C
    Delegate the task of evaluating the client's risk for self-harm to an unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).
  4. Decrease environmental stimuli by turning off the television and minimizing loud noises in the room.Answer
  5. E
    Agree with the client that the voices are present in the room to quickly establish a therapeutic alliance.
  6. F
    Apply physical restraints immediately to prevent injury if the client begins pacing anxiously.

Answer

The correct interventions are to ask the client directly what the voices are saying, acknowledge the client's fear while stating the nurse does not hear the voices, and decrease environmental stimuli.
Appropriate care for a client experiencing auditory hallucinations involves ensuring safety by assessing for command hallucinations, using therapeutic communication to present reality while validating emotions, and modifying the environment to reduce sensory overload.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the client's clinical presentation.
The client is experiencing distressing auditory hallucinations.
Understanding the acute symptom (hallucinations) guides the selection of safe and therapeutic interventions.
2
Evaluate each intervention choice for safety, therapeutic communication, and appropriate delegation.
Assessing hallucination content, presenting reality, and reducing stimuli are safe and therapeutic. Delegating assessment, reinforcing psychosis, and premature restraints are inappropriate.
Psychiatric nursing care must prioritize safety (assessing for command hallucinations), employ therapeutic communication (validating feelings without reinforcing delusions), and adhere to legal/ethical standards (proper delegation and maintaining the least restrictive environment).

Key Concept

Nursing Management of Auditory Hallucinations
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