Question

A nurse is admitting a client who has schizophrenia. The client states, "The FBI has bugged the phone and is monitoring my calls." Which of the following responses by the nurse is appropriate?

1) Tell the client that the FBI is not monitoring their calls.
2) Ask the client why they believe the FBI is monitoring their calls.
3) Assure the client that their calls are not being monitored.
4) Ignore the client's statement and continue with the admission process.

Answer 1

The appropriate response by the nurse would be to ask the client why they believe the FBI is monitoring their calls to gather more information and assess their thought process.

Step-by-step explanation:

The appropriate response by the nurse in this situation would be to ask the client why they believe the FBI is monitoring their calls.

By asking the client why they hold this belief, the nurse can gather more information about the client's thought process and assess whether it is a symptom of their schizophrenia. This response shows empathy and respect for the client's perspective while also ensuring a thorough assessment is conducted.

Telling the client that the FBI is not monitoring their calls or assuring them that their calls are not being monitored may be interpreted as dismissing or invalidating the client's experience and feelings, which can hinder the therapeutic relationship and the client's trust in the nurse.