Question

Positive symptoms associated with schizophrenia include delusions and hallucinations. Which of the following is an example of a delusion? A. The client claims that the FBI is following him. B. The client states that voices are telling him to kill his family. C. The client sees a rope and thinks it is a snake. D. The client feels like bugs are crawling on his skin.

Short answer

s, which involve false perceptions of objects, events, or senses. #Short Answer# Option A (The client claims that the FBI is following him) is an example of a delusion because it is a false belief that is not based on reality. The other options (B, C, and D) are examples of hallucinations, which involve false perceptions of objects, events, or senses.

Step-by-step solution

Understand the difference between delusions and hallucinations

A delusion is a false belief that is not based on reality, often involving situations that are highly unlikely or even impossible. Hallucinations, on the other hand, are false perceptions of objects, events, or senses, such as hearing, seeing, or feeling something that is not present.

Evaluate each option

We will now analyze each option to determine which one is an example of a delusion: A. The client claims that the FBI is following him. - This is a false belief that is not based on reality, which indicates that it is a delusion. B. The client states that voices are telling him to kill his family. - This is an example of hearing something that is not present, which is a hallucination. C. The client sees a rope and thinks it is a snake. - This is an example of seeing something that is not present, which is a hallucination. D. The client feels like bugs are crawling on his skin. - This is an example of feeling something that is not present, which is a hallucination.

Identify the correct option

Based on our analysis, option A (The client claims that the FBI is following him) is an example of a delusion, as it is a false belief that is not based on reality. The other options (B, C, and D) are examples of hallucination

Key concepts

Delusions

Delusions are misrepresentations of reality stemming from the mind. In schizophrenia, individuals often experience these strong yet erroneous beliefs that are unlikely or impossible, resisting logical argument or evidence to the contrary. For example, a patient might harbor the delusion of persecution, believing without basis that they are being actively followed or monitored by organizations such as the FBI. Contextually, delusions can heavily influence a person's behavior and reactions, potentially leading to significant distress.

Understanding delusions is fundamental for both diagnosing and treating schizophrenia. As referenced in the exercise, if a client insists that the government is spying on them, this conviction constitutes a delusion since it persists despite a lack of factual support. This knowledge is crucial for mental health professionals to properly address the challenges their patients face and to develop appropriate treatment strategies.

Hallucinations

Hallucinations are sensory experiences without external stimuli, vivid and real to the person experiencing them. People with schizophrenia may see, hear, feel, taste, or smell things that aren't truly present. For instance, hearing disembodied voices is one of the most common hallucinations associated with this condition. It's what might occur if a patient hears voices that give malicious commands or provide a running commentary on their actions, as option B in the exercise illustrates.

In mental health nursing, recognizing hallucinations helps differentiate schizophrenia from other conditions. Should a client report seeing a rope as a snake or feeling bugs crawling on their skin when there are none, these are hallucinations involving sight and touch, respectively. Dissecting these hallucinations is vital to give proper care and to educate patients on reality-testing techniques to manage their symptoms.

NCLEX-PN Exam

The National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN) is a standardized test that nursing graduates must pass to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs). This exam tests knowledge and skills necessary for the entry-level nursing practice, including mental health concepts critical to caring for patients with psychiatric disorders. Questions on the NCLEX-PN exam, like the one presented in the original exercise, assess an examinee's ability to distinguish between different symptoms of mental health conditions, such as delusions and hallucinations.

Grasping the complexities of schizophrenia symptoms ensures that nurse candidates are prepared for the mental health situations they will encounter in their practice. Therefore, thorough preparation for this section of the NCLEX-PN can be pivotal for a nursing student's ability to provide compassionate and competent care to individuals with mental health disorders.

Mental Health Nursing

Mental health nursing is a specialized field that focuses on supporting individuals with mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia. Nurses in this field play a critical role in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric conditions. They work collaboratively with patients to manage symptoms, administer medications, provide psychotherapy, and develop care plans tailored to individual needs.

The exercise highlights the necessity for mental health nurses to distinguish between symptoms like delusions and hallucinations to create effective patient interventions. Beyond symptom management, these nurses are also educators and advocates, guiding patients and their families through the complexities of psychiatric disorders and the mental healthcare system. The ability to identify and understand schizophrenia symptoms precisely is just one skill among many that mental health nurses must possess to deliver holistic and patient-centered care.