Question

the nurse is caring for a hospitalized patient diagnosed with schizophrenia who is believed to be having delusions. which assessment finding would confirm this suspicion?

the patient states, \the japanese mafia is out to get me.\
the patient states, \i hear the voice of god talking to me.\
the patient states, \i see the trees outside my window and think they are people breaking into my room.\
the patient states, \i feel really confused and cloudy. sometimes i feel like im going to lose my mind.\

Explanation:

Define delusions and analyze the options

• Delusions are fixed, false beliefs that are not grounded in reality and cannot be corrected by reasoning.
• Option 1: "The Japanese mafia is out to get me." This is a persecutory delusion (a fixed, false belief of being targeted).
• Option 2: "I hear the voice of God talking to me." This is an auditory hallucination (a sensory perception without an external stimulus).
• Option 3: "I see the trees outside my window and think they are people breaking into my room." This is an illusion (a misinterpretation of a real external sensory stimulus).
• Option 4: "I feel really confused and cloudy..." This is a subjective description of cognitive state/anxiety, not a delusion.

Identify the confirming finding

• The statement "The Japanese mafia is out to get me" represents a classic persecutory delusion, confirming the presence of delusions.

Answer:

• (A) The patient states, "The Japanese mafia is out to get me." (Correct answer)
• (B) The patient states, "I hear the voice of God talking to me."
• (C) The patient states, "I see the trees outside my window and think they are people breaking into my room."
• (D) The patient states, "I feel really confused and cloudy. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to lose my mind."