A nurse is caring for a client who wanders through the halls yelling obscenities at staff, other clients, and visitors. Which of the following action should the nurse take?

a. Is the client’s family present so the AP can show them how to turn the client:

While involving the client's family in care can be beneficial for education and support, this assessment does not directly pertain to the AP's ability to provide care or the client's immediate needs.

b. Does the AP have time to change the client’s central IV-line dressing after turning her:

This assessment is relevant to the AP's workload and scheduling, but it does not directly address the client's care needs related to bathing and turning.

c. Has data been collected about specific client needs related to turning:

This assessment is crucial before delegating care. The nurse should ensure that relevant information about the client's condition, including any specific needs or considerations related to turning, has been gathered and communicated to the AP to provide appropriate care.

d. Has the AP checked the client’s pain level prior to turning her:

This assessment is essential to ensure the client's comfort and safety during care activities. Assessing the client's pain level before turning helps prevent exacerbation of pain and ensures that turning is performed with appropriate consideration for the client's comfort.

a. Administer a sedative to the client:

Administering a sedative may temporarily calm the client, but it should not be the first-line intervention, especially without a physician's order. Sedatives carry risks and should only be used when other interventions have been considered and deemed ineffective or when the client's behavior poses an immediate danger to themselves or others.

b. Contact a family member to come and sit with the client: could indeed be a valid first step. If a family member is available and able to assist, they could potentially calm the client without the need for isolation and reducing disruptive behavior.However, if this is not feasible, then ensuring the client’s safety through temporary isolation with frequent checks might be necessary.

c. Place the client in a wheelchair with a lap tray:

Placing the client in a wheelchair with a lap tray may restrict their movement and potentially exacerbate agitation or aggression. It does not address the underlying reasons for the behavior and may not be an appropriate intervention for managing wandering behavior.

d. Keep the client in her room with the door closed:

Isolating a client in their room could be considered a form of restraint or isolation and should be used with caution.This should be used only after other less restrictive measures have been tried and deemed ineffective.