At 0200, a practical nurse (PN) in a memory care unit observes an 82-year-old client with moderate dementia pacing the hallway, shouting about intruders, and attempting to pull down a fire extinguisher. Arrange the following nursing actions in the priority order the PN should perform them. (Place the first action at the top and the last action at the bottom.)
- 1Approach the client slowly from the front while speaking in a calm, reassuring tone.
- 2Guide the client away from the busy hallway into a quiet, low-stimulation area.
- 3Assess the client for physiological triggers such as hypoxia, pain, or bladder distention.
- 4Report the acute behavioral changes and physical assessment findings to the supervising registered nurse.
- 5Document the specific behaviors observed, interventions implemented, and the client's response.
Cevap
The correct priority sequence is: 1) Approach the client slowly and calmly, 2) Guide the client to a low-stimulation area, 3) Assess for physiological triggers, 4) Report findings to the supervising RN, and 5) Document the event.
In older adults, especially those with baseline dementia, a sudden onset of agitation often indicates delirium triggered by a physiological issue (such as an infection or hypoxia). However, according to safety principles and prioritization frameworks, the nurse must first establish immediate physical safety. This is achieved through verbal de-escalation (approaching calmly) and environmental modification (moving to a quiet area). Once the client is safe and calmer, the nurse can safely perform a physical assessment to identify the physiological root cause. Following the assessment, the nurse reports the findings to the RN and finally documents the incident in the client's medical record.
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Anahtar Kavram
Prioritization of safety, de-escalation, and assessment of delirium in older adults