The nurse is teaching a client with epilepsy who has a new prescription for phenytoin (Dilantin). Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the teaching?

A. The priority for treating delirium is to identify and address the underlying cause. Delirium is often a symptom of an acute condition such as infection, metabolic disturbances, medication side effects, or other physical issues. Treating the root cause of delirium can help resolve the condition more effectively.
B. While creating a calm, quiet environment can help reduce confusion and agitation, it is not the most critical aspect of treatment. The main focus should be on addressing the cause of the delirium.
C. Reorienting the client is important for safety and reducing confusion, but it will not be sufficient to resolve the delirium if the underlying cause is not addressed. Reorientation is a supportive measure, not the priority intervention.
D. Although monitoring nutrition is important for overall health, it is not the first priority in treating delirium unless malnutrition is identified as a contributing factor to the delirium.

A. Look directly at the person you are talking to helps enhance communication by using facial expressions and visual cues, which can compensate for the soft, monotone, or slurred speech often seen in clients with Parkinson’s disease.
B. Stopping to take a breath after each word would make speech more fragmented and harder to follow. It is not a recommended strategy.
C. A hearing aid would help the listener if they had hearing loss, but it does not assist the client with Parkinson’s who is having difficulty speaking, not hearing.
D. Speaking louder may help, but speaking faster is counterproductive. Clients with Parkinson’s often benefit from slower, more deliberate speech and may work with a speech therapist to use strategies like the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), which focuses on increasing vocal loudness—not speed.