A nurse in a community mental health clinic is assessing a client who began taking lithium carbonate 5 days ago. The client reports fine hand tremors and has a current lithium level of 1.2 mEq/L. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Hallways are long distances:
Long hallways can be challenging for individuals with dementia due to their potential mobility issues, disorientation, and decreased ability to navigate. Dementia often affects spatial awareness and can lead to confusion, making it difficult for patients to find their way back to their rooms or common areas. Long distances increase the risk of falls and disorientation.

B. The room has an area rug:
Area rugs can present tripping hazards for anyone, especially for individuals with mobility issues, balance problems, or cognitive impairments like dementia. Patients might trip on the edges of the rug, leading to falls and injuries.

C. The bed is in the low position:
Having the bed in a low position is generally considered a safety measure, especially for patients at risk of falls. However, for a patient with dementia, it might be important to strike a balance. Beds that are too low can be difficult for individuals with dementia to get in and out of, potentially leading to falls. It's important to assess the patient's ability to safely get in and out of bed.

D. Outside doors have locks:
Locks on outside doors are essential for the safety of individuals with dementia. Dementia patients are prone to wandering, which can lead them to dangerous situations if they leave the facility unsupervised. Locks on outside doors help prevent wandering, ensuring the patients stay within the secure confines of the facility.

A. Summarize the objectives the client achieved during the relationship:
This intervention is more appropriate for the termination phase of the nurse-client relationship. During termination, the nurse summarizes the progress made, goals achieved, and skills learned during the therapeutic relationship. This helps both the nurse and the client reflect on the journey and celebrate accomplishments.

B. Present issues regarding confidentiality:
Discussing confidentiality is crucial and typically occurs in the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship. Establishing trust and clarifying the boundaries of confidentiality early in the relationship helps the client feel secure and promotes open communication. This choice is relevant during the initial stages of the therapeutic relationship.

C. Promote the client's problem-solving skills:
This is the correct choice for the working phase of the nurse-client relationship. In this phase, the focus is on active problem-solving, exploring feelings and thoughts, and encouraging the client to develop coping strategies. The nurse supports the client in identifying problems, generating solutions, and implementing effective strategies. Promoting the client's problem-solving skills is a central aspect of therapeutic work during this phase.

D. Identify the responsibilities of the client and nurse:
Clarifying the responsibilities of both the client and nurse is essential to establish clear roles and expectations. This usually occurs in the orientation phase. During this phase, the nurse explains the purpose of the therapeutic relationship, the roles of both parties and the boundaries of the nurse-client interaction. Establishing clear responsibilities helps create a foundation for a respectful and effective therapeutic alliance.