Question

An 81-year-old client is admitted to a rehabilitation facility 3 days after total hip replacement. The next morning, the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) takes the client's vital signs, but when the UAP returns to assist the client with a shower, the client curses at and tries to hit the UAP. Which is the most appropriate response by the practical nurse?

A. "I will walk to the room to observe the client's behavior."
B. "It sounds like the client is not satisfied with the care provided. I'll see if we can make the client more comfortable."
C. "Just leave the client alone now and try again later."
D. "The client probably has dementia and is under a lot of stress with the change of environment."

Answer 1

The most appropriate response by the practical nurse in this scenario is B: "It sounds like the client is not satisfied with the care provided.

Step-by-step explanation:

I'll see if we can make the client more comfortable." This option demonstrates a professional and caring approach, which acknowledges the client's distress and aims to address and resolve the issue with empathy and understanding.

Aggressive behavior in elderly patients can be a manifestation of various factors, including pain, confusion, the stress of a new environment, or underlying conditions such as dementia, as opposed to intentional hostility.

Therefore, it is important to assess the situation and try to improve the client's comfort level, rather than attributing the behavior to dementia without further evaluation or simply avoiding the situation.