A patient tells the nurse, "Air Force jets flying overhead are looking for me. They want to capture me." The patient has not previously verbalized this information. The nurse's initial interventions should:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A nurse cannot agree with a delusion, but arguing is counterproductive, because it might cause the patient to cling to the idea. Voicing doubt and stating one's own perception of reality is therapeutic. Encouraging discussion of the delusion reinforces it. Because the behavior described is not disruptive, this principle is not relevant.

A Patient Tells the Nurse, "Air Force Jets Flying Overhead