Schizophrenia Nursing Care Plan

This assignment focuses on providing a comprehensive nursing care plan for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. It requires an in-depth understanding of the disorder, including its symptoms, causes, and treatment options. The plan should address various aspects of care, such as medication management, psychosocial interventions, risk assessment (e.g., suicide), and education for both patients and families. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based practices and strategies that promote patient recovery and well-being.

NAME : Tao Jaravani
UNIT : HSNS 510
ASSSIGNMENT : Written Assignment 1
UNIT COORDINATOR: Irene Ikafa

Introduction
Mental health refers to the state of health whereby an individual is able to identify their potential,
cope with the life’s challenges, and have the ability to execute their duties fruitfully (World
Health Organization, 2014). According to Australian Bureau of Statistics (2013), most
Australians of age between 16 and 85 have experienced some form of mental health issue at
some point in their life. Schizophrenia is the main mental issue, which affects an individuals
behaviors, thoughts, and perception. According to Barker (2009), about 1 in 100 people develop
this illness and out of the total Australian population, 285, 000 people are suffering from
schizophrenia. The paper will discuss on the psychiatric, family and social history, mental health
assessment, and finally, the paper will look at the available interventions
Family and Social History
Andy is 21 years of age. He is in his final year in university where he shares a room with his
friends. Andy is going through a worrying experience. His family practitioner refers him to a
psychiatrist. Andy feels that his friend are out to hurt him. He feels that his friends have put some
stuff in his brain, which is scheming his thoughts. He is scared getting out of the room and his
appetite is deteriorating as he is thinking that his friends are putting poison in his food.
Andy has symptoms of persecutory, insertion, hallucinations, and third person auditory. There
are no record of personal histories like family history, his development, and childhood
environment that would expose him to mental illness. However, he has an history of using drugs
like weed and cannabis. Andy agrees to consume a large volume of weed daily with his friends.
Andy visits his parents quite often and her mother is concerned with his condition who together

with the family practitioner refer him to the psychiatrist. Andy is willing to get help as he does
not want to worry his parents.
Mental State assessment
Appearance
Andy’s personal hygiene is up to standard despite being unshaved. His weight and height are
normal. His body posture is appropriate and he appeared tidy and well-groomed. However, he
looked worried and confused.
Behavior
Andy had poor eye contact and appeared restless. He was not coordinating between non- verbal
and verbal communication
Speech
His speech was monotonous and incoherent.
Affect and Mood
Andy is anxious and worried as he thinks his friends are after him. For instance, he is saying that
his friends are putting poison in his food.
Thoughts
Andy reports no sign of thought disorder.
Thought Content

He confirms that he has had suicidal thought and at one point he wanted o have a drug overdose.
In addition, he had homicidal ideation, he had a baseball bat and a knife in his bag to protect
himself.
Perceptual disorder
Andy did not express any form of perceptual disturbance lie illusions, derealisation, and
depersonalization, However, Andy had a third party auditory. For instance, he was hearing his
roommates plotting to hurt him.
Cognition
There are no physical evidence of inadequate cognition disorder as he seemed conscious and
alert.
Judgment and insight
Andy had a poor state of insight and insight as he blames M15 for what is happening to him,
however, his judgment state was still intact as he was ready to receive treatment.
Risk evaluation
Andy was at risk as he is reported to use illicit drugs like weed. In addition, his actions of
keeping a baseball bat and a knife in his bag and drug overdose increase the risk of suicide and
homicide.
Formulation

Andy is going through symptoms of hallucinations, delusions, and schizophrenia. Andy also
appears to have suicidal and homicidal thoughts. He has a supportive mother and family doctor
and he is willing to receive treatment.
Interim Diagnosis
Through the manifested symptoms and signs of hallucinations, delusions, and negative thoughts,
Andy could be diagnosed with schizophrenia. According to Granholm, Holden, Link, &
McQuaid (2014), when an individual presents one or two of the symptoms of hallucinations,
catatonic behavior, delusions, disorganized speech, and negative symptoms for a time of one
month or more, they should be diagnosed with schizophrenia (Kasckow, Felmet & Zisook,
2011).
Care Plan
It is imperative to manage psychotic disorders like schizophrenia because of the hallucinations
and delusions, which affect the patients normal functioning. In this case, the care plan for this
disorder will entail a nursing, psychosocial, and medical intervention (Keltner, Bostrom &
McGuinness, 2011).
1. Medical Intervention
The clinical issue is schizophrenia and the goal is to ease the symptoms of the condition through
the use of anti-psychotic drugs (Kuipers, Udechuku, Taylor & Kendall, 2014). In this case, the
drugs is to alleviate the negative symptoms of the disorder lie hallucinations, delusions, and
negative thoughts (Haddad, Brain & Scott, 2014). Some of the most effective medicines that the
patient can use to alleviate his symptoms include the First Generation Anti-psychotics like

chlorpromazine and haloperidol, which block postsynaptic receptor (Evans, Nizette & O'Brien,
2016). The second medication are the Second Generation Anti-psychotics lie quetiapine,
olanzapine, and clozapine, which minimize symptoms of emotional blunting, avolition, and
withdrawals. Brown & Gray (2015) suggests that, the efficiency of treatment is achieved by a
strict adherence to the medication, which can be done through the cooperation of family
members and the healthcare providers to improve medication follow ups.
2. Psychosocial Interventions
The clinical issue is delusions and the primary goal is to enhance insight.. in the case of Andy, he
needs a Cognitive Behavior therapy (CBT), which is suitable in the initial stages of his recovery
(Elder, Evans & Nizette, 2009). CBT influences the patient positively by improving their
thinking and behaviors, thus improving the quality of life. Further, it is reported that Andy has a
history of social isolation. Social skills can be tried on him in order to modify him to be social.
3. Nursing Interventions
Schizophrenia is chronic disorder, which affects the patients quality of life (American
Psychiatric Association, 2013). In Andy’s case, it is diagnosed that he has a self-directed or other
directed risk as he thinks the environment he is in is threatening. The goal for the nursing
intervention is to ensure he patient does harm others or himself. In this case, the client should be
referred to engage with the social network in order to maintain a good relationship with others.
Some of the activities that can be used to achieve social networks include crafts, arts, and
encouraging the patient to be part of a group (Kneisl & Trigoboff, 2013).

Conclusion
Schizophrenia has no cure. In this case adherence and approach to the pharmacological
management of the illness is essential. These can be done along with the nursing and
psychosocial interventions in order to reduce relapse. Therefore, a holistic approach is key in the
management of schizophrenia.

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