Question

scenario: a patient on antipsychotic medication develops tardive dyskinesia. what is the pmhnps ethical obligation?

• continue the medication without changes
• prescribe additional medication to manage the side effect
• discontinue the medication and explore alternatives
• ignore the side effect as long as the medication is effective

Explanation:

Tardive dyskinesia is a serious side effect of antipsychotic medications. A Psychiatric - Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) has an ethical obligation to prioritize the patient's well - being. Continuing the medication without changes (first option) or ignoring the side effect (fourth option) would be unethical as they do not address the harm caused by the side effect. Prescribing additional medication to manage the side effect (second option) is not the best initial ethical response as the primary issue is the harmful side effect of the antipsychotic itself. The ethical approach is to discontinue the medication that is causing the side effect and explore alternative treatments that can address the patient's mental health needs without causing this serious side effect.

Answer:

C. Discontinue the medication and explore alternatives