SCHOLARLY ASSIGNMENT: A BEAUTIFUL MIND

Scholarly Assignment: A Beautiful Mind

My Tran
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NURS 209

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This movie tells a story about a young prodigy, John Nash, and how he pursues
his dream to publish an original idea while struggling with schizophrenia. His delusions
start while he is a student at Princeton University. Throughout his career, his mind creates
three fictional characters and suffers through the mental illness with his family and
colleagues. The health challenges are a set back for his career but with the support of his
family and colleagues, he learns to overcome his delusions and continues to chase his
dreams.
Throughout the film, John Nash struggled with his symptoms that became more
prominent as he suffered greatly from his delusions and subsequently, diagnosed with
schizophrenia. Nash displayed three physical and psychosocial symptoms. Three
significant physical effects of health challenge that Nash experienced were: pain, absence
of hygiene and pale skin. Three significant psychosocial effects of health challenge were:
hallucinations, anxiety and reduced social engagement and emotional expression.
Pain, absence of hygiene and pale skin are underlying symptoms for further health
complications. The film depicted Nash to experience physical, psychological and
emotional pain. The wound on his forehead he inflicted on himself while experiencing
delusions was evident that there was presence of pain. He also suffered from emotional
suffering when he could not provide support and affection to his wife. Presence of pain is
an important symptom to manage for clients diagnosed with schizophrenia to reduce risk
of harm to self and to others (Swingler, 2013). Moreover, Nashs appearance throughout
the film appeared to be unkempt and sloppy. Absence of hygiene is an example of lack of
self-care. Inadequate personal hygiene can result in a potential risk for the clients
immune system and overall health as many sicknesses can be caused by lack of personal

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hygiene and cross contamination. Pallor skin could be pertinent indication of poor
nutrition and greater health issues such as lack of tissue perfusion. Assessment of skin
integrity can reveal changes in oxygenation, circulation, nutrition, local tissue damage
and hydration (Potter and Perry, 2014).
Nash displayed three psychosocial effects of schizophrenia that include
hallucinations, anxiety and reduced social engagement and emotional expression. Nashs
initial fictional character started during his education in university. His hallucinations
resulted in creating three fictional characters that followed his mind throughout the
movie. His hallucinations became more frequent into his adulthood, which resulted in
increase anxiety. Increased anxiety is important to address to health care professionals, as
it is considered a high priority because it can further develop into an anxiety attack which
can result to immediate threat to a clients survival (Potter and Perry, 2014). Moreover,
Nash was depicted as a strange character that did not fit well into society. He was seen to
lack appropriate social behaviour and to only have a small group of two close colleagues.
His emotional expression improved drastically through the support he received from his
wife and colleagues. The importance of socialization is a significant aspect to the
development of an individual. It teaches individual expectations, attitudes and morals
acceptable to society (Steckley, 2013). Social engagement and emotional expression
allows an individual to develop fully and function in their most optimal well-being and
life. Expressing emotional needs is an important factor to develop client centered care
plans. Overall, social engagement and emotional expression has a greater outcome for the
clients well being. Psychosocial effects of schizophrenia are important health challenges
to treat in order to promote recovery and improve quality of life.

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Furthermore, to control and manage symptoms of schizophrenia, it is important to
address hallucinations that cause anxiety, reduction of social engagement and harm to self
and others (Swingler, 2013). In the film, Nashs initial hallucinations began when he
started school and it progressed into his adulthood. His disorientation caused him great
anxiety and negatively affected his relationship with his wife. His work performance
began to decline and the hallucinations caused a great amount of physical, emotional and
psychological harm. In this given case, hallucination would thereby be the priority as it
effects altered conceptualization, disorientation and change in problem-solving skill
(Potter and Perry, 2014). Hallucinations could cause further perceptual disturbances
subsequently increasing the severity of the known symptoms.
Three interventions to treat hallucinations include: develop a therapeutic nurseclient relationship, administer antipsychotic medications and provide patient education
and teaching for the client and family. Therapeutic relationship development is important
in order to create and implement a care plan that meets the clients specific health needs.
A therapeutic relationship involves trust and respect, which can reduce anxiety and make
the client feel safe. Establish nurse-client relationship by opening communication and
encouraging behaviour that expands self-awareness, thereby, helping the client move
toward reality (Potter and Perry, 2014). It is important that the nurse use therapeutic
communication to encourage the client to define the problem, and to explore thoughts and
feelings (Ghafoor, 2008).
Medication administration plays an important factor in reducing symptoms of
schizophrenia. Antipsychotics such as: risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, ziprasidone,
and aripiprazole are common medications that are used. Ensure that patients continue to

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take medication when required and to improve functional outcomes. Many patients with a
diagnosis of schizophrenia stop their medication, increasing the risk of relapse of
symptoms and re-admission of rehabilitation (Van Os and Kapur, 2009). Antipsychotic
drugs are effective in treating symptoms with a reduced burden of side effects; however,
medications alone are not the solution. Antipsychotic drugs are best administered in the
context of other psychological and social supports (Van Os and Kapur, 2009). Client
teaching and support group education would benefit the outcome and goals of the
treatment.
Schizophrenia can be seen as a lifelong disability; nevertheless, providing client
and family education for this mental illness can be managed for the client to live the most
optimal life. Understanding the nature of schizophrenia has great importance as it can
effect the familys beliefs, attitudes and systematized knowledge of their own (Brooker,
1992). Education sessions should include diagnosis, prognosis, symptoms, management
and medication to allow a better understanding for relatives of the client that will result in
more focused client-orientated goals. Sessions will also assist the family and relatives to
fulfill any further advice and support that is required.
Nurses will establish interventions with client and family. Nurses will be
responsible for monitoring effectiveness of medication, its side effects, and signs of
adverse reactions. It is important to collaborate this care with the doctor and pharmacist
to find medication best suited to the clients needs (Potter and Perry, 2014). The physician
will diagnose the client with schizophrenia and will refer individual and family to
schizophrenia programs. The physician and nurse will collaborate with the client and
family of the options of treatment and rehabilitation (Potter and Perry, 2014). The

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pharmacist will be responsible for dispensing medications and to collaborate with nurse
to find medication best suited to the clients needs and to achieve the desired effects.
During the film, Nashs hallucinations heightened resulting in an increase anxiety,
which caused him to harm himself and others. This event was followed by forced
sedation and Nash was consequently sent to a facility to received therapeutic shock. With
this in mind, clients with mental health illnesses can be admitted into rehabilitation
especially if the individual is facing life-altering health challenge (Potter and Perry,
2014). Restoration through advocacy, collaboration and research can stabilize a client
back into their most optimal level of function while promoting independence and care
(Potter and Perry, 2014). Credit Valley Hospital provides a Schizophrenia Program in
which they provide assessment, treatment, education and psychosocial rehabilitation for
people diagnosed with schizophrenia. The Schizophrenia Program information can be
easily accessed on their website http://triulliumhealthpartners.ca, and the Director of
Patient Care Services can be contacted through email or phone.
Following a discharge from the hospital, individuals who seek further advice,
support and education are able to seek assistance with many community resources
available for the clients family and friends. Schizophrenia Society of Ontario have a
program called, Support and Advocacy, which offers support and education to families
and friends of those living with schizophrenia. This organization is a resource for
northern Ontario whose vision is to make a positive difference in the lives of people,
families and communities affected by schizophrenia and psychotic illnesses
(Schizophrenia Society of Ontario, 2013). Living with an individual who suffers from
mental illness can be exasperating. In the film, Nashs wife was evidently seen as

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exhausted and frustrated while Nash was on medications. When stress elevates, it is
important to know that there are others who are suffering also.
Therapeutic goals are to relieve symptoms, prevent relapse, promote recovery and
overall improve quality of life (Swingler, 2013). It is important to educate, support and
advocate for the client and family in order to achieve the optimal state of physical, mental
and social well-being.

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References
Brooker, Charles. (1992). Evaluating the impact of training community psychiatric
nurses to educate relatives about schizophrenia. Journal of clinical nursing.
Retrieved from: http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?
sid=8c4f5d1d-2238-482c-8071-bfa1cfaf01e3%40sessionmgr110&
vid=1&hid=115
Ghafoor, Shabina. (2008). Schizophrenia. Nursing Standard.
Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com/docview/219840444?
accountid=11530
Grazer, Brian (Producer), & Howard, Ron (Director). (December 2002). A Beautiful
Mind. USA: Universal Pictures.
Potter, Patricia, Anne Perry, Janet Ross-Kerr, Marilynn Wood, Barbara Astle, Wendy
Duggleby. Canadian Fundamentals of Nursing, 5th Edition. Mosby Canada, 2014.
Steckley, John, and Guy Kirby Letts. Elements of sociology: a critical Canadian
introduction. Third ed. Oxford University Press, 2013.
Swingler, Daniel. (2013). Schizophrenia. South African Journal of Psychiatry.
Retrieved from: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7
CA343258861&v=2.1&u=humber&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=cd47b299dd2e
93c3b0c1c82f39e83868
Van Os, Jim and Kapur, Shitij. (2009). Schizophrenia. Elsevier Limited.
Retrieved from: http://search.proquest.com/docview/199047908?accountid=
11530

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