A nurse in a long-term care facility is monitoring clients in the day room. A client who has dementia becomes angry and starts screaming at the nurse. Which of the following interventions should the nurse take first?
Place the client in a seclusion room.
Engage the client in a repetitive activity as a distraction.
Administer PRN haloperidol IM to the client.
Apply wrist restraints to the client.
The Correct Answer is B
A. Seclusion is a highly restrictive intervention and is not the first action for managing agitation in dementia clients.
B. Engaging the client in a repetitive activity as a distraction is the least restrictive intervention and can help calm the client by redirecting their attention. Non-pharmacological and less restrictive approaches are preferred as initial responses to manage agitation in dementia clients.
C. Administering PRN haloperidol IM is a pharmacological intervention and should be reserved for situations where less restrictive measures have failed.
D. Applying wrist restraints is a restrictive intervention that can increase agitation and is not appropriate as a first-line approach.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. While connecting the client with others may provide support, it does not directly address the client’s frustrations or concerns about their therapy.
B. Asking the provider to speak with the client directly can facilitate communication about their concerns and may help address their frustrations regarding the plan of care.
C. Threatening the client with consequences for leaving is not appropriate and may increase their frustration and disengagement from care.
D. It is important to respect the client’s autonomy and right to leave, so informing them they cannot leave is not appropriate or legal without proper discharge procedures being followed.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) is the priority because it increases the risk of aspiration, which can lead to aspiration pneumonia, a serious and potentially life-threatening complication for clients with Parkinson's disease.
B. Insomnia, while impacting quality of life, is not as immediately life-threatening as aspiration risk.
C. Needing additional help to stand reflects disease progression but does not carry the immediate risk of a life-threatening complication.
D. Difficulty dressing also indicates disease progression but does not pose an immediate danger to the client’s health.