Hallucination
A false sensory perception occurring without an external stimulus, most commonly auditory, seen in psychotic and substance-related disorders.
Item stems describe a patient reacting to something the nurse cannot perceive — head cocked toward a corner, mumbling, or eyes tracking empty space. The tell is a sensory experience with no external stimulus, and the highest-yield move is to ask directly what the voices are saying: a “yes” to command hallucinations ordering self-harm or violence makes safety the priority over any therapeutic-communication option. Watch for tactile (formication — bugs crawling on the skin) and visual hallucinations, which point toward delirium, alcohol withdrawal, or substance use rather than schizophrenia, where auditory voices dominate.
The classic trap is confusing this with delusion — a fixed false belief, not a perception; “the FBI is poisoning me” is a delusion, “I hear the FBI through the wall” is a hallucination. Both share the rule: do not argue or reinforce; present reality without challenging the patient (“I don’t hear voices, but I believe you do”). Unlike a crisis (coping and problem-solving) or escalating anxiety (reducing stimuli), the answer here hinges on content and command risk.
PlayPrepHQ study notes are written and reviewed against primary exam sources. How we create & review content →