Ch 16 Schizo Book Key Points

Question 1

Schizophrenia is:

Answer 1

a chronic illness requiring long-term management strategies and coping skills.

It is a disease of the brain, a clinical syndrome characterized by a person’s thoughts, perceptions, emotions, movements, and behaviors.

Question 2

The effects of schizophrenia on the client may be profound, including all aspects of the client’s life:

Answer 2

social interactions, emotional health, and ability to work and function in the community.

Question 3

Schizophrenia is conceptualized in terms of:

Answer 3

positive signs such as delusions, hallucinations, and disordered thought processes as well as

negative signs such as social isolation, apathy, anhedonia, and lack of motivation and volition.

Question 4

The clinical picture, prognosis, and outcomes for clients with schizophrenia:

Answer 4

vary widely.

Therefore, it is important that each client is carefully and individually assessed with appropriate needs and interventions determined.

Question 5

Careful assessment of each client as an individual is:

Answer 5

essential to planning an effective plan of care.

Question 6

Families of clients with schizophrenia may experience:

Answer 6

fear, embarrassment, and guilt in response to their family member’s illness.

Families must be educated about the disorder, the course of the disorder, and how it can be controlled.

Question 7

Failure to comply with treatment and the medication regimen and the use of alcohol and other drugs are associated with:

Answer 7

poorer outcomes in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Question 8

For clients with psychotic symptoms, key nursing interventions include:

Answer 8

• helping to protect the client’s safety and right to privacy and dignity,
• dealing with socially inappropriate behaviors in a nonjudgmental and matter-of-fact manner,
• helping present and maintain reality for the client by frequent contact and communication,
• and ensuring appropriate medication administration.

Question 9

For the client whose condition is stabilized with medication, key nursing interventions include:

Answer 9

• continuing to offer a supportive, nonconfrontational approach,
• maintaining the therapeutic relationship by establishing trust and trying to clarify the client’s feelings and statements when speech and thoughts are disorganized or confused,
• helping to develop social skills by modeling and practicing,
• and helping to educate the client and family about schizophrenia and the importance of maintaining a therapeutic regimen and other self-care habits.

Question 10

Self-awareness issues for the nurse working with clients with schizophrenia include:

Answer 10

dealing with psychotic symptoms, fear for personal safety, and frustration as a result of relapses and repeated hospital admissions.