Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 69%
Simulated
A nurse is preparing to administer haloperidol to a client with schizophrenia. Which side effect should the nurse monitor for?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C: Extrapyramidal symptoms. Haloperidol is an antipsychotic medication that can cause extrapyramidal side effects such as dystonia, akathisia, parkinsonism, and tardive dyskinesia. The nurse should monitor the client for these symptoms as they can be distressing and impact the client's quality of life. Tachycardia (A) is not a common side effect of haloperidol. Dry mouth (B) is a potential side effect of antipsychotic medications, but it is not specific to haloperidol. Hypoglycemia (D) is not a common side effect of haloperidol. Therefore, the nurse should focus on monitoring for extrapyramidal symptoms when administering haloperidol to the client with schizophrenia.