Watch More! Unlock the full videos with a FREE trial
Add to Study plan
Master
Included In This Lesson
Study Tools
Schizophrenia Pathochart (Cheat Sheet)
Access More! View the full outline and transcript with a FREE trial
Example Nursing Diagnosis for Schizophrenia
- Impaired Thought Processes: Schizophrenia is characterized by disorganized thinking. This diagnosis addresses cognitive deficits related to the disease.
- Risk for Violence: Some individuals with schizophrenia may exhibit violent behaviors. This diagnosis emphasizes the potential for violence and the need for safety measures.
- Social Isolation: Schizophrenia can lead to social withdrawal and isolation. This diagnosis focuses on addressing social and interpersonal issues.
Transcript
Hey guys, in this care plan, we will explore schizophrenia. In this schizophrenia care plan, we're going to talk about the desired outcome, the subjective and objective data, along with the nursing interventions and rationales for each.
So our medical diagnosis is schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects the brain, and is going to affect how the patient thinks, how they feel and how they behave. Schizophrenia is thought to involve the imbalance of neurotransmitters like dopamine, glutamate, and serotonin in the brain that change the way the brain reacts to stimuli, so the exact cause is unknown, but it's thought to be a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. The disease is thought to be triggered by an extremely stressful life event. Our desired outcome is that the patient will be able to communicate effectively and demonstrate reality based processes. The patient will be able to demonstrate the ability to distinguish between reality and hallucinations.
Now, let's take a look at our care plan. So, subjective data that your patient may experience that has schizophrenia includes hallucinations, paranoia, and a change in personality due to the imbalances in the brain. So, these in turn cause the patient to have difficulty sleeping and concentrating, which may create feelings of indifference.
Objective data that you might notice in your patient with schizophrenia include inappropriate behavior, a flat affect, unprovoked outbursts. This is all due to the disruptive brain chemicals that are here in her brain. You may notice tense, anxious or erratic movements due to paranoia and hallucinations, so the patient will likely have a decline in academic or work performance, especially when they're having these schizophrenia episodes.
Now let's look at our nursing interventions. So you will obtain a history and assess the patient for hostile or self-destructive behaviors. Doing so is going to help determine if the patient is at risk for harming themselves or others. That way, the most appropriate precautions can be taken, especially according to the protocol of your organization. You want to provide non-judgemental compassion, encouragement, and just reorient them gently. You want to develop trust between you and the patient. It's hard for them to trust people. They're feeling paranoid. They're feeling like they can't trust anybody, so just be there for them. Listen, and just try to help them maintain a touch with reality. You definitely want to make sure that you encourage communication about the patient's experience and their feelings. Listen to them. This is the biggest thing I can tell you to do. Listen, help them to reduce their anxiety and encourage them to have a sense of control. You should redirect inappropriate behaviors and maintain boundaries. Do not let them walk all over you because they will try.
You want to prevent escalation of behaviors and avoid manipulation in these patients. Make sure that you explain any procedure slowly and carefully. You want to reduce their paranoia. Remember they're already paranoid. They already don't might not trust you or the organization that they're in right now, so you want to help them to reduce their paranoia. You want to encourage cooperation, avoid arguing, and never confirm delusions ever, ever, ever. Do not just go along with something, just to make things easier. This patient has a lot going on in their head. Let's not make it any worse than it already is. Let's try to reorient them.
Okay, we want to reduce agitation. We want to reduce their confusion. They need therapeutic communication to keep their mind on the right path. Administer medications as ordered, such as anti-psychotics to help reduce those symptoms.
We love you guys. Now, go out and be your best self today and as always, happy nursing!
So our medical diagnosis is schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that affects the brain, and is going to affect how the patient thinks, how they feel and how they behave. Schizophrenia is thought to involve the imbalance of neurotransmitters like dopamine, glutamate, and serotonin in the brain that change the way the brain reacts to stimuli, so the exact cause is unknown, but it's thought to be a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. The disease is thought to be triggered by an extremely stressful life event. Our desired outcome is that the patient will be able to communicate effectively and demonstrate reality based processes. The patient will be able to demonstrate the ability to distinguish between reality and hallucinations.
Now, let's take a look at our care plan. So, subjective data that your patient may experience that has schizophrenia includes hallucinations, paranoia, and a change in personality due to the imbalances in the brain. So, these in turn cause the patient to have difficulty sleeping and concentrating, which may create feelings of indifference.
Objective data that you might notice in your patient with schizophrenia include inappropriate behavior, a flat affect, unprovoked outbursts. This is all due to the disruptive brain chemicals that are here in her brain. You may notice tense, anxious or erratic movements due to paranoia and hallucinations, so the patient will likely have a decline in academic or work performance, especially when they're having these schizophrenia episodes.
Now let's look at our nursing interventions. So you will obtain a history and assess the patient for hostile or self-destructive behaviors. Doing so is going to help determine if the patient is at risk for harming themselves or others. That way, the most appropriate precautions can be taken, especially according to the protocol of your organization. You want to provide non-judgemental compassion, encouragement, and just reorient them gently. You want to develop trust between you and the patient. It's hard for them to trust people. They're feeling paranoid. They're feeling like they can't trust anybody, so just be there for them. Listen, and just try to help them maintain a touch with reality. You definitely want to make sure that you encourage communication about the patient's experience and their feelings. Listen to them. This is the biggest thing I can tell you to do. Listen, help them to reduce their anxiety and encourage them to have a sense of control. You should redirect inappropriate behaviors and maintain boundaries. Do not let them walk all over you because they will try.
You want to prevent escalation of behaviors and avoid manipulation in these patients. Make sure that you explain any procedure slowly and carefully. You want to reduce their paranoia. Remember they're already paranoid. They already don't might not trust you or the organization that they're in right now, so you want to help them to reduce their paranoia. You want to encourage cooperation, avoid arguing, and never confirm delusions ever, ever, ever. Do not just go along with something, just to make things easier. This patient has a lot going on in their head. Let's not make it any worse than it already is. Let's try to reorient them.
Okay, we want to reduce agitation. We want to reduce their confusion. They need therapeutic communication to keep their mind on the right path. Administer medications as ordered, such as anti-psychotics to help reduce those symptoms.
We love you guys. Now, go out and be your best self today and as always, happy nursing!
View the FULL Transcript
When you start a FREE trial you gain access to the full outline as well as:
- SIMCLEX (NCLEX Simulator)
- 6,500+ Practice NCLEX Questions
- 2,000+ HD Videos
- 300+ Nursing Cheatsheets
“Would suggest to all nursing students . . . Guaranteed to ease the stress!”
