Mental Health Nclex Questions Study Guide Rated A+

The nurse working on a psychiatric unit follows which of the following guidelines when offering medication to a client with paranoid schizophrenia in the client's room? Keep your back on the client and your eyes on the exit. Only offer medication with another staff person. Keep the door open and a clear exit path. Offer medication when the client is calm. {Ans: Keep the door open and a clear exit path. Explanation • Psychiatric nurses must learn to be aware of their surroundings and always keep client and personal safety as the primary goal. The nurse should always maintain a clear exit path and keep the client room door open. The only time the door should be closed is when an invasive procedure is undertaken, and in this instance, the nurse should have another nurse or nurse assistant as a chaperone. • Patient medication times are not altered for nurse convenience. Psychiatric patients may be calm at certain times, but nurses must administer medications at the scheduled times. • Nurses cannot always wait to administer medications until another nurse is available to accompany them. Each nurse has responsibilities during a work shift that must be accomplished in a timely