A client with bipolar disorder has not slept or eaten in four days. The client is pacing and becomes increasingly agitated and loud while the nurse talks to the client's spouse. Which intervention is best for the nurse to implement at this time?
Move to a quiet area and provide peanut butter with crackers.
Encourage the spouse to eat lunch with the client.
Walk with the client to the cafeteria and stay while client eats.
Request a full lunch tray from the dietary department.
The Correct Answer is C
A) Moving to a quiet area and providing peanut butter with crackers may help address the client’s nutritional needs, but it may not adequately address the client’s agitation and pacing. The immediate priority is to stabilize the client’s behavior before focusing on nutrition.
B) Encouraging the spouse to eat lunch with the client may create an opportunity for social interaction, but it might not be effective in calming the client’s agitation. If the client is already highly agitated, the spouse's presence alone may not help diffuse the situation.
C) Walking with the client to the cafeteria and staying while the client eats is the best intervention at this time. This approach allows the nurse to provide a calming presence and guidance while encouraging the client to eat. It also helps redirect the client's energy and agitation into a structured activity, promoting both physical movement and nutrition, which is crucial after several days without food.
D) Requesting a full lunch tray from the dietary department could provide a more substantial meal; however, it might not address the immediate need for calming the client. If the client remains agitated and loud, it may be challenging to ensure that they can eat peacefully, making this intervention less effective than accompanying the client directly to eat.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A) Regression involves reverting to earlier developmental behaviors in response to stress. While the client’s current behaviors may reflect regression, her inability to remember specific events points more directly to another mechanism.
B) Denial is the refusal to accept reality or facts. The client acknowledges that her mother ran her father off, so she is not completely denying her past; instead, she seems to lack memory about certain aspects, which suggests a different mechanism.
C) Projection involves attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings or thoughts to someone else. The client is not projecting her feelings onto others; she is reflecting on her own experiences, so this is not the most accurate descriptor.
D) Repression is the unconscious blocking of unacceptable thoughts or memories. The client’s statement about not remembering possible abuse suggests that she may have repressed those memories as a way to cope with the emotional pain associated with her past. This aligns well with the client’s history of chronic depression and suicidal behavior.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A) Showing the client the unit can be helpful for orientation, but it may not address the client's immediate emotional state. Since the client is exhibiting paranoia and sitting quietly, they might not feel safe or ready to engage in a tour.
B) Offering medication to the client may be appropriate later, but it does not address the client's current need for safety and trust. If the client is feeling paranoid, they might be suspicious of medications offered right away.
C) Explaining the nurse's role to the client is the first and most important intervention. This helps to establish trust and reduce anxiety, as it clarifies the nurse's intentions and reassures the client that they are there to provide support. Building rapport is crucial in dealing with a client exhibiting paranoia.
D) Reading the client their rights is important but may feel overwhelming to a client who is already anxious or paranoid. It’s more effective to first build a connection and establish a sense of safety before discussing rights or other formalities.
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