The nurse is caring for a patient who is taking chlorpromazine HCl (Thorazine) 75 mg BID to treat schizophrenia. A family member tells the nurse that the patient's agitation, hallucinations, and delusional symptoms have improved with use of the drug, but the patient continues to withdraw from social interaction and won't bathe unless reminded to do so. The nurse will tell the family member that:

Question

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While the patient's positive symptoms (agitation, hallucinations, delusions) have improved, they are still experiencing negative symptoms such as social withdrawal and lack of self-care. This may indicate that the current antipsychotic medication is not fully effective in treating all aspects of the patient's schizophrenia. Switching to an atypical antipsychotic may be a beneficial option to consider, as these drugs are often better at treating both positive and negative symptoms.

The Nurse Is Caring for a Patient Who Is Taking