Question

the wife of a male client recently diagnosed with schizophrenia asks the nurse, \what exactly is schizophrenia? is my husband all right?\ which response is best for the nurse to provide to this family member?

• it sounds like youre worried about your husband. lets sit down and talk.
• it is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes disorganized thinking.
• your husband will be just fine if he takes his medications regularly.
• i think you should talk to your husbands psychologist about this question.

Explanation:

Analyze the client's family member's emotional state and questions

The wife asks two questions: "What exactly is schizophrenia?" (seeking information) and "Is my husband all right?" (expressing underlying anxiety, fear, and worry).

Evaluate the communication options based on therapeutic principles

• Option 1: "It sounds like you're worried about your husband. Let's sit down and talk." This response uses the therapeutic technique of reflecting feelings to address the wife's underlying anxiety first, while offering a supportive, open-ended invitation to discuss her concerns and provide education.
• Option 2: "It is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes disorganized thinking." This is a purely factual, clinical explanation that ignores the emotional component of her second question ("Is my husband all right?").
• Option 3: "Your husband will be just fine if he takes his medications regularly." This provides false reassurance, which is non-therapeutic, as schizophrenia is a chronic illness with a variable prognosis.
• Option 4: "I think you should talk to your husband's psychologist about this question." This is a defensive response that abdicates the nurse's role in providing support and basic education, passing the responsibility to another provider.

Select the best therapeutic response

Option 1 is the most therapeutic because it validates the wife's feelings of worry and establishes a supportive nurse-client relationship to address both her emotional needs and her educational questions.

Answer:

• (A) It sounds like you're worried about your husband. Let's sit down and talk. (Correct answer)
• (B) It is a chemical imbalance in the brain that causes disorganized thinking.
• (C) Your husband will be just fine if he takes his medications regularly.
• (D) I think you should talk to your husband's psychologist about this question.