A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has generalized anxiety disorder and a new prescription for buspirone. Which of the following information should the nurse include?

Choice A reason: Using a quick-release tie for restraints ensures that the nurse can quickly and easily release the client in case of an emergency. Quick-release ties are designed to provide safety and convenience, allowing healthcare providers to promptly respond to the client's needs without compromising safety. This method reduces the risk of injury to both the client and the healthcare team.

Choice B reason: Restraint prescriptions typically need to be renewed more frequently than every 48 hours, often within 24 hours. The exact duration depends on the facility's policy and regulatory guidelines. Regular assessment of the need for restraints and timely renewal of the prescription ensure that restraints are used appropriately and only as long as necessary.

Choice C reason: Attaching restraints to the side rail of the client's bed is unsafe and inappropriate. Restraints should be attached to a non-movable part of the bed frame to prevent the client from injuring themselves if the side rail is moved. Securing restraints to a stable part of the bed ensures better control and reduces the risk of harm.

Choice D reason: While maintaining some space between the restraint and the client's skin is important to prevent circulation issues, the guideline typically suggests maintaining two fingers' breadth between the restraint and the client's skin, not one. This ensures adequate circulation and reduces the risk of injury or skin breakdown.

Choice A reason: Response prevention is a technique often used in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This approach involves preventing the client from engaging in the compulsive behavior they typically perform in response to an anxiety-producing obsession. While effective for OCD, this technique is not typically used for treating specific phobias like the fear of elevators.

Choice B reason: Systematic desensitization is an effective behavioral strategy for decreasing anxiety related to specific phobias. This method involves gradually exposing the client to the feared object or situation—in this case, elevators—in a controlled and progressive manner while teaching relaxation techniques. By slowly and systematically confronting the phobia, the client can learn to reduce their anxiety response over time. This approach helps them manage their fear more effectively and builds their confidence in facing the phobic situation.

Choice C reason: Thought stopping is a cognitive-behavioral technique used to interrupt and prevent distressing thoughts. The client is trained to recognize these thoughts and use a specific action or command, such as saying "Stop" out loud, to halt the negative thought process. While this technique can be helpful for managing anxiety and intrusive thoughts, it is not the primary behavioral strategy for treating specific phobias.

Choice D reason: Flooding, also known as exposure therapy, involves exposing the client to the phobic situation in an intense and prolonged manner until their anxiety diminishes. This approach can be effective but is often overwhelming and can cause significant distress. It requires careful supervision and is not typically the first-line treatment for specific phobias due to the potential for causing trauma or exacerbating the fear.