Delivering Nursing Care to Consumer with Mental Health Conditions - Essay Example

• Schizophrenia -- a basic working definition of schizophrenia is "a group of mental disorders characterized by abnormal thoughts, moods, and actions; sufferers have a distorted sense of reality, and a split personality (thoughts do not logically fit together)" (American Medical Depot).
• formal admission -- when someone voluntarily or involuntary enters a mental health facility for observation and/or treatment.
• involuntary admission - According to the NSW Mental Health Act 2007)-- when someone is brought to a facility by the police or a primary caregiver and signed in to stay against their will.

PART B

1.The learner needs to demonstrate an ability to assess a client with a mental health condition (in this case, schizophrenia)

2.List 5 observations regarding mental state which may be relevant to a client with schizophrenia.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), the following observations must be present in order to diagnose an individual with schizophrenia:

The individual must have 2 or more of these symptoms in order to qualify for this diagnosis. It is an Axis 1 Mental Health Issue.

1. Delusions
2. Hallucinations
3. Disorganized speech
4. Grossly disorganized or catatonic behavior
5. negative symptoms, i.e. affective flattening, alogia, or avolition.
6. PREPARE A WRITTEN CARE PLAN to meet Liam's needs. (Included)

The clinician should also take into consideration that the treatment plan must help the individual stay on their medication.

Therefore a treatment plan for Liam will use the following components:

1. Medication-- Clozapine and Zyprexa
2. Group therapy -- a peer-to-peer program that allows Liam to hear from other people who are already managing their Schizophrenia. This has been proven to be effective in dealing with patients.
3. Parent support -- we would explore work with Liam's parents to see whether they would become involved with him again as part of his treatment plan.
4. Psychosocial Rehabilitation program -- it would be a good idea for him to have a program that will help him become more socialized in a positive way. We will explore this to see what aspects of socialization he is in most need of and help him find a program that would work.
5. Describe two (2) medications that may be used for a client with schizophrenia, noting their usual dosages and side effects.
• Clozapine (also known as Clozaril) -- is an anti-psychotic that assists the individual in stopping symptoms of schizophrenia. Usual dosages are described by each psychiatrist but they can be taken on an empty stomach or with food. Also, it should not be missed once started. The list of side effects are many and include:

• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• diarrhea
• constipation

It can also cause more side effects like:

• tremor
• seizures
• difficulty urinating
• high blood sugar

(Psychcentral, "Clozapine").

• Zyprexa - a newer atypical antipsychotic drug, a "psychotropic agent." Again, the prescription is given by the doctor and there is no "usual" dosage. The side effects are the same for any antipsychotic:
• Drowsiness
• Feeling more hungry than usual
• Gaining weight
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Upset stomach
• Feeling weak
• Restlessness
• Tremors (shakes

On the official website, they tell the individual how to work with these side effects and they say that these "don't bother a person enough to stop taking the drug." ("Zyprexa. Official Website").