Final answer:
The appropriate nursing response is to neither confirm nor deny the voices but help the patient focus on reality, recognizing that the hallucinations are symptoms of schizophrenia linked to a chemical imbalance or brain malfunction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The appropriate nursing response to the parents asking why their son with paranoid schizophrenia hears voices is option C: "Neither confirm nor deny the voices, but try to focus on reality." It is essential to understand that in schizophrenia, there can be a malfunction in dopaminergic neurons and issues with glutamate signaling that contribute to the symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions. The voices or instructions from God that the patient believes in are part of these hallucinations. These experiences are not a result of divine intervention but of a chemical imbalance or malfunction within the brain. It is the nurse's role to gently guide the patient back to reality, without directly challenging the hallucinations, as this can cause distress or confrontation.