Exam 15: Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has taken fluphenazine (Modecate) 5 mg po bid for 3 weeks. The nurse now observes a shuffling propulsive gait, a masklike face, and drooling. Which term applies to these symptoms?

What assessment findings mark the prodromal stage of schizophrenia?

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has taken a conventional antipsychotic medication for a year. Hallucinations are less intrusive, but the patient continues to have apathy, poverty of thought, and social isolation. The nurse would expect a change to which medication?

A health care provider considers which antipsychotic medication to prescribe for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia who has auditory hallucinations and poor social function. The patient is also overweight and hypertensive. Which drug should the nurse advocate?

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia begins a new prescription for lurasidone (Latuda). The patient is 168 cm and currently weighs 95 kg. Which topic is most important for the nurse to include in the teaching plan related to this medication?

A nurse asks a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia, "What is meant by the old saying 'You can't judge a book by its cover'?" Which response by the patient indicates concrete thinking?

A newly admitted patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is hypervigilant and constantly scans the environment. The patient states, "I saw two doctors talking in the hall. They were plotting to kill me." The nurse may correctly assess this behaviour as which of the following?

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is very disturbed and violent. After several doses of haloperidol (Haldol), the patient is calm. Two hours later the nurse sees the patient's head rotated to one side in a stiff position, the lower jaw thrust forward, and drooling. Which problem is most likely?

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia anxiously says, "I can see the left side of my body merging with the wall. Then my face appears and disappears in the mirror." While listening, the nurse should do which of the following?

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "I eat skiller. Tend to end. Easter. It blows away. Get it?" Select the nurse's best response.

A newly admitted patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, "The voices are bothering me. They yell and tell me I am bad. I have got to get away from them." Select the nurse's most helpful reply.

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia demonstrates little spontaneous movement and has waxy flexibility. The patient's activities of daily living are severely compromised. An appropriate outcome would be which of the following?

The nurse is developing a plan for psychoeducational sessions for several adults diagnosed with schizophrenia. Which goal is best for this group?

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia begins to talk about "macnabs" hiding in the warehouse at work. The term macnabs should be documented as which of the following?

A patient receiving risperidone (Risperdal) reports severe muscle stiffness at 1030. By 1200, the patient has difficulty swallowing and is drooling. By 1600, vital signs are 38.6°C; pulse 110; respirations 26; and blood pressure 150/90. The patient is diaphoretic. Select the nurse's best analysis and action.

A patient insistently indicates that she cannot take her hat off because then the aliens will be able to put thoughts into her brain. Which problem is evident?

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia and auditory hallucinations anxiously tells the nurse, "The voice is telling me to do things." Select the nurse's priority assessment question.

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, "Contagious bacteria are everywhere. When they get in your body, you will be locked up with other infected people." Which problem is evident?

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has been stable for a year; however, the family now reports the patient is tense, sleeps 3 to 4 hours per night, and has difficulty concentrating. The patient says, "My computer is sending out infected radiation beams." The nurse assesses this information as an indication of which of the following?

A patient took trifluoperazine 30 mg po daily for 3 years. The clinic nurse notes that the patient grimaces and constantly smacks both lips. The patient's neck and shoulders twist in a slow, snakelike motion. Which problem would the nurse suspect?