Final answer:
The client uses cleaning to temporarily reduce anxiety.
Step-by-step explanation:
For the client whose nursing diagnosis is powerlessness related to inability to control compulsive cleaning, the nurse recognizes that the client uses the cleaning to temporarily reduce anxiety. Cleaning can provide the client with a sense of control and order, which can help to alleviate anxiety. It is important for the nurse to understand this underlying motivation in order to develop an effective care plan for the client.