A nurse is reinforcing teaching about home management with the partner of a client who has dementia. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

Rationale:

• Orientation: The client was previously disoriented to time and place, thinking it was 1975 and they were at home. On Day 2, they are alert and fully oriented. This improvement shows enhanced neurological and cognitive status.

• Blood pressure: On Day 1, the client’s BP was 88/50 mm Hg, which indicated hypotension. By Day 2, the BP improved to 132/86 mm Hg. This indicates stabilization of cardiovascular function and better perfusion.

• Temperature: The fever rose to 39.1°C on Day 1 but decreased to 37.7°C on Day 2. This drop suggests the client is responding to treatment and the infectious process is being controlled.

• Hallucinations: On Day 1, the client reported spiders crawling on them, indicating delirium. On Day 2, they deny hallucinations. This improvement shows resolving infection or neuroinflammation.

• WBC count: The WBC count of 14,000/mm³ remains elevated above the normal range and was only assessed on Day 1. Without follow-up labs, it does not indicate improvement.

Rationale:

A. "What coping methods help you when you feel bad?": While assessing coping mechanisms is important for long-term care planning, it does not immediately address the client's current risk for self-harm or suicide. This question is more appropriate after ensuring the client's safety.

B. "Do you have thoughts of suicide?": Determining if the client has suicidal ideation is the priority in this situation. Clients who self-harm may be at high risk for suicide, and direct questioning helps assess intent, plan, and urgency, which is crucial for ensuring immediate safety.

C. "Tell me why you hurt yourself.": Exploring the reasons behind self-injury can be valuable later during therapy or assessment, but it is not the first priority. The nurse must first evaluate the client’s current mental state and risk for further harm before exploring motives.

D. "Who can we call to support you?": Identifying a support system is important for discharge planning and ongoing therapy, but it does not address the immediate concern of suicide risk. Ensuring the client's current safety takes precedence over external support at the time of admission.