A patient presents to the emergency department with disorganized speech, hallucinations, and appears to be responding to internal stimuli. The patient has no known history of substance abuse and lab results do not indicate any acute abnormalities. Based on the presented symptoms, which intervention should the emergency nurse prioritize to ensure the safety and stabilization of this patient?
Isolate the patient to prevent overstimulation and worsening of symptoms
Perform a full medical workup to rule out any possible organic causes
Commence therapeutic communication and assess for potential safety concerns
Immediately administer a fast-acting antipsychotic medication
The patient is displaying hallmark symptoms of a psychotic disorder, likely schizophrenia, which include hallucinations and disorganized speech. The priority intervention is establishing a safe environment and initiating a therapeutic communication to assess for potential harm to self or others, given the patient's apparent response to internal stimuli. Antipsychotic medication administration and a full medical workup, though important, are subsequent steps after securing the safety of the individual and the healthcare team.
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Mental Health Emergencies
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