Question

A nurse is caring for an older adult client who is experiencing delirium. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the client's plan of care?

a. Maintain a consistent and familiar environment.

b. Administer sedative medications to promote sleep.

c. Encourage the use of restraints to prevent injury.

d. Minimize sensory stimuli to decrease confusion.

Answer 1

The most appropriate intervention for a nurse caring for an older adult experiencing delirium is to maintain a consistent and familiar environment to reduce confusion and provide a comforting reference point for reality.

Step-by-step explanation:

To answer the student's question regarding the care of an older adult client who is experiencing delirium, the nurse should include maintaining a consistent and familiar environment in the client's plan of care. This approach would help in providing a sense of stability for the patient, which is often disrupted in cases of delirium. Options such as administering sedative medications and utilizing restraints can be counterproductive and may worsen delirium or lead to further complications, thus are usually not recommended. Moreover, minimizing sensory stimuli could be beneficial, yet it is important to find the right balance so as to not isolate the patient or reduce important social interactions.

In summary, the most appropriate intervention is a. Maintain a consistent and familiar environment as it helps reduce confusion and anxiety in patients with delirium, providing a comforting reference point for reality. While minimizing sensory stimuli can be part of the intervention, it must be carefully balanced. It is critically important to employ non-pharmacological methods firstly, and to use pharmacological interventions such as sedatives only when necessary and under strict medical supervision.