Nursing Component Task
Nursing procedures & clinical learning

Community Mental Health Nursing (RCMN)

MANAGING PATIENT WITH INAPPROPRIATE THOUGHT (DELUSION)

This is where the RCPN assist client to replace their disordered thoughts with realistic ones.

Purpose

  • Protect the client from harming self and others
  • Help organise/replace their faulty thoughts with realistic ones

Indications

  • Managing a client with inappropriate thought (delusion) to replace disordered thoughts with realistic ones.
  • Protecting the client from harming self and others.
  • Helping organise or replace faulty thoughts with realistic ones.

Equipment

  • Client's records (manual or electronic)
  • Teaching and learning materials e.g. videos, diagram etc.
  • Pen and paper
  • Related website

Preparation

  • Prepare the client's records and teaching and learning materials.
  • Ensure a calm, safe and private environment for the interview.

Procedure steps

  • Establish rapport and offer clients a seat if possible
  • Interview client to determine whether delusion is present
  • Respect client's needs and maintain physical space during interview
  • Encourage expression of feelings and thoughts
  • Identify precipitating factors
  • Show acceptance, listen and avoid arguing with client
  • Offer honest perceptions of reality in feedback
  • Observe for verbal and nonverbal cues
  • Inform client the support system available
  • Teach client therapeutic values of medicines and daily routines that promote compliance
  • Direct client to the next activities
  • Document observations and findings

Precautions

  • Establish rapport and offer the client a seat if possible.
  • Respect the client's needs and maintain physical space during the interview.
  • Show acceptance, listen and avoid arguing with the client.
  • Offer honest perceptions of reality in feedback.

Aftercare

  • Direct the client to the next activities.
  • Document observations and findings.

Nursing considerations

  • Interview the client to determine whether a delusion is present and identify precipitating factors.
  • Observe for verbal and nonverbal cues and encourage expression of feelings and thoughts.

Patient education

  • Teach the therapeutic values of medicines and daily routines that promote compliance.
  • Inform the client of the support system available.

Documentation

  • Document observations and findings.

References and further reading

Educational resource only. Follow current Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance, local institutional protocols, scope of practice, and clinical supervision.

Open Component Task app