A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has catatonia. The patient has little spontaneous movement and waxy flexibility. Which patient needs are of priority importance?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Physiologic needs must be met to preserve life. A patient who is catatonic may need to be fed by hand or tube, toileted, and given range-of-motion exercises to preserve physiologic integrity. The assessment findings do not suggest safety concerns. Higher-level needs (psychosocial and self-actualization) are of lesser concern.

A Patient Diagnosed with Schizophrenia Has Catatonia