A nurse is caring for a client who has an anxiety disorder.
Which of the following findings should the nurse recognize as a manifestation of mild anxiety?

Choice D rationale:

Lithium toxicity is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition. It can occur when lithium levels in the blood become too high.

Blurred vision and nausea are common early symptoms of lithium toxicity.

Withholding the medication is the most important action the nurse can take to prevent further toxicity and potential harm to the client.

The nurse should immediately notify the healthcare provider of the client's symptoms and the decision to withhold the medication.

The healthcare provider will likely order a lithium level to be drawn to assess the severity of the toxicity.

Depending on the results of the lithium level, the healthcare provider may order other interventions, such as intravenous fluids or medications to lower the lithium level.

Choice A rationale:

Encouraging the client to rest with his eyes closed may provide some temporary relief from the blurred vision, but it does not address the underlying problem of lithium toxicity.

It is important for the nurse to take more decisive action to prevent further toxicity.

Choice B rationale:

Re-checking the client in 4 hours may delay necessary interventions and allow the lithium toxicity to worsen.

It is important for the nurse to take immediate action to protect the client's health.

Choice C rationale:

Administering the next dose of lithium as prescribed would further increase the lithium level in the blood and could lead to more severe toxicity.

This is not a safe or appropriate action for the nurse to take in this situation.

Choice A rationale:

Providing strategies for redirecting violent behavior is a relevant intervention for individuals with borderline personality disorder, as they may exhibit impulsive and aggressive behaviors. However, it is not the priority in this situation. The immediate focus should be on ensuring the client's safety and preventing self-harm.

Strategies for redirecting violent behavior can be implemented once the client's safety is stabilized. These strategies might include:

De-escalation techniques

Distraction techniques

Time-outs

Setting clear boundaries and expectations

Teaching coping skills for managing anger and frustration Choice B rationale:

Exploring reasons for her behavior is important for understanding the underlying issues that contribute to the client's selfharming behaviors. However, it is not the priority in the initial phase of treatment. The focus should be on ensuring the client's immediate safety and preventing harm.

Once the client is stabilized, exploring the reasons for her behavior can be done through individual therapy, group therapy, or other therapeutic modalities. This exploration can help the client gain insight into her patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Choice C rationale:

Encouraging the client to talk about her feelings is a valuable therapeutic intervention, as it can help the client express and process emotions in a healthy way. However, it is not the priority in the context of borderline personality disorder, where the risk of self-harm is high.

Encouraging emotional expression can be beneficial once the client's safety is ensured and appropriate coping skills are in place. This can be done through individual therapy, journaling, or other expressive arts therapies.

Choice D rationale:

Protecting the client from self-harm behavior is the nurse's priority when working with a client who has borderline personality disorder. This is because individuals with this disorder have a high risk of engaging in self-injurious behaviors, such as cutting, burning, or overdosing on medication.

It is important to implement various safety measures to protect the client, including:

Close observation and monitoring

Removal of potentially harmful objects from the environment

Clear communication of expectations and boundaries

Collaboration with the healthcare team to develop a comprehensive safety plan

Regular assessment of suicide risk