ATI RN · ATI Mental Health · Population Specific Care

Which of the following are considered red flags for a communication disorder?

A patient tells the nurse, 'I can't go to any unit meetings because when I get in that room, everyone can hear my thoughts.' The nurse can correctly assess this symptom as:

A patient with schizophrenia is admitted to the psychiatric unit in an acutely disturbed, violent state. He is given several doses of haloperidol (Haldol) and becomes calm and approachable. During rounds the nurse notices the patient has his head rotated to one side in a stiffly fixed position. His lower jaw is thrust forward and he appears severely anxious. The patient has _____, and the nurse should _____.

An advance directive gives legally binding direction for health care interventions when a patient

A widow, aged 72 years, lives alone and is visited weekly by her son. She takes digoxin, hydrochlorothiazide, and an antihypertensive drug. She also has a prescription for diazepam (Valium) as needed for moderate to severe anxiety. When the son visited today, he found his mother confused and disoriented, with an unsteady gait. The nurse assessed the patient as having several cognitive problems, including memory and attention deficits and fluctuating levels of orientation. The nurse confirms that the patient's symptoms developed: