Schizophrenia & Thought Disorders

Priorities & Safety

100

This is always the nurse's first priority when a patient reports command hallucinations

Ensuring patient safety?

200

This type of hallucination requires immediate intervention due to risk of harm

Command hallucinations

300

This patient should be seen first:

One with flat affect

One refusing meds

One calm with hallucinations

One hearing voices telling them to jump

The patient hearing voices telling them to jump

400

When a patient expresses suicidal thoughts, this becomes the nurse's top priority over all other symptoms

Safety

500

This is the first action when a patient is pacing, yelling, and clenching fists

Assess for risk of violence

Symptoms

100

Hallucinations and delusions fall into this category of symptoms

Positive symptoms

200

Flat affect, lack of motivation, and reduced speech are examples of these symptoms

Negative

300

Difficulty concentrating and impaired decision-making fall into this category

Cognitive symptoms

400

This type of hallucination is most common in schizophrenia

Auditory hallucinations

500

Believing the TV is sending personal messages describes this type of delusion

Delusion of reference

Therapeutic Communication

100

This is the best type of response when a patient reports hallucinations

Acknowledging feelings and presenting reality

200

This response is NOT therapeutic:

Arguing

Acknowledging feelings

Exploring the experience

Arguing

300

"I understand this feels real to you, but I don't hear that" is an example of this communication technique

Presenting reality

400

This is the goal of therapeutic communication in psychosis

Building trust and maintaining safety

500

This is the best follow-up question after a patient reports hearing voices

"What are the voices telling you?"

Medications & Side Effects

100

This medication requires monitoring for agranulocytosis

Clozapine

200

This life-threatening condition includes fever, rigidity, and confusion

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)

300

This medication is used to treat acute dystonia

benztropine

400

This type of antipsychotic is associated with metabolic syndrome

Second-generation (atypical) antipsychotics

500

This side effect is often irreversible and involves lip smacking and tongue movements

tardive dyskinesia

Clinical Judgment

100

This is the priority when a patient refuses food due to paranoia about poisoning

Offering alternative food options and maintaining trust

200

This EPS symptom is characterized by restlessness and inability to sit still

akathisia

300

This EPS symptom includes tremor, rigidity, and shuffling gait

Parkinsonism

400

This is the priority assessment for hallucination on exams

Determining if they are command hallucinations

500

When prioritizing care, this concept always comes before psychosocial concerns

Safety (or physiological needs)