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A hospitalized client with a diagnosis of schizophrenia who is experiencing delusions says to the nurse, "I know that the doctor is talking to the top man in the mob to get rid of me." Which response should the nurse make to the client?

a) "I don't believe this is true."
b) "The doctor is not talking to the mob."
c) "What makes you think the doctor wants to get rid of you?"
d) "I don't know anything about the top man in the mob. Do you feel afraid that people are trying to hurt you?"

User Royal
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Final answer:

The nurse should respond with option d) "I don't know anything about the top man in the mob. Do you feel afraid that people are trying to hurt you?", as this acknowledges the patient's feelings without reinforcing or directly challenging the delusion and can help in building therapeutic rapport with the client.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct response for a nurse to provide to a hospitalized client with schizophrenia who is experiencing delusions would be option d) "I don't know anything about the top man in the mob. Do you feel afraid that people are trying to hurt you?" This response acknowledges the patient's fears without affirming the delusion or confronting it directly, which can be important in building trust and maintaining a therapeutic relationship. The response also opens a dialogue by addressing the client's emotions and inviting them to share more about their feelings and concerns.

In contrast, option a) and option b) directly challenge the patient's beliefs, which can lead to defensive or aggressive behavior. Option c) asks for reasons behind the delusion, potentially leading the patient to elaborate on the delusional thinking rather than focusing on their emotional state and building rapport.

User Nicko
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