A 45-year-old client has been admitted to the hospital for alcohol withdrawal. Which intervention should the nurse prioritize during the initial phase of care?
Assist the client to ambulate to reduce muscle stiffness caused by tremors.
Encourage fluid intake to prevent dehydration from withdrawal symptoms.
Administer prescribed benzodiazepines to prevent complications such as seizures.
Discuss relapse prevention strategies and refer the client to a support group.
Monitoring for seizures and signs of severe withdrawal, such as delirium tremens (DTs), is critical during the acute phase of alcohol withdrawal because of the life-threatening nature of these complications. Administering prescribed benzodiazepines can help prevent complications by reducing withdrawal symptoms and the risk of seizures. Encouraging fluid intake is beneficial but not the priority during this phase, whereas long-term education about relapse prevention is vital but should occur after stabilization of acute symptoms.
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Psychosocial Integrity
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