A nurse is caring for a client with moderate dementia who becomes increasingly agitated and confused during the evening hours. What is the BEST action for the nurse to take to reduce the client's symptoms?
Ensure the environment is calm and maintain a consistent evening routine daily.
Reorient the client by providing detailed explanations of the time and surroundings every 30 minutes.
Administer a sedative medication to reduce the client's agitation and evening restlessness.
Leave the television on in the background to provide visual and auditory stimulation.
The correct answer involves using structured and familiar routines to help reorient and calm clients with cognitive alterations such as dementia. Limiting distractions and providing a consistent, low-stimulation environment is effective in addressing symptoms like increased confusion and agitation during the evening (often referred to as sundowning). Other options, like attempting reorientation with repeated explanations, could overwhelm the client and increase agitation, and sedating medications should not be the first-line intervention without trying other measures.
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Psychosocial Integrity
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