Question

an adult client who has been hospitalized for two weeks for chronic paranoia continues to state that someone is trying to steal their clothing. which action should the nurse take?

encourage the client to actively participate in assigned activities on the unit.
place a lock on the clients closet.
ignore the clients paranoid ideation to extinguish these behaviors.
explain to the client that their suspicions are false.

Explanation:

Analyze the client's clinical presentation

The client has chronic paranoia and a persecutory/paranoid belief that someone is trying to steal their clothing. This indicates a lack of basic security and trust in their immediate environment.

Evaluate the therapeutic interventions

• Encourage participation in activities: This does not address the immediate distress or safety concern regarding their personal belongings.
• Place a lock on the client's closet: This is a concrete, real-world intervention that provides physical security, validates their need for safety without validating the delusion itself, and helps reduce anxiety.
• Ignore the behavior: Ignoring does not build trust or reduce the client's underlying anxiety.
• Explain suspicions are false: Arguing or trying to logically disprove a delusion is non-therapeutic and can damage the nurse-client relationship.

Answer:

• Encourage the client to actively participate in assigned activities on the unit.
• Place a lock on the client's closet. (Correct answer)
• Ignore the client's paranoid ideation to extinguish these behaviors.
• Explain to the client that their suspicions are false.