What strategy should a nurse use when working with a client who has schizophrenia and is experiencing delusions?

When working with a client who has schizophrenia and is experiencing delusions, identifying the client's feelings underlying the delusions is a crucial strategy. This approach allows the nurse to validate the client’s emotional experiences and foster a therapeutic relationship, which is essential for effective communication and support. Delusions often stem from deep-seated fears, anxieties, or unresolved issues, and by acknowledging and exploring these feelings, the nurse can help the client feel heard and understood.

This can also open avenues for discussing the delusions in a non-confrontational way and may lead to an exploration of the client's reality without dismissing their experiences outright. Engaging with the emotional content related to the delusions helps to build trust and encourages the client to share more about their thoughts, which is vital for care.

In contrast, challenging the delusion directly can lead to defensiveness and further entrench the client in their belief system. Ignoring the delusion may cause the client to feel invalidated, and while reassurance about the commonality of delusions may provide some comfort, it does not address the underlying feelings that need to be explored for effective mental health care.