A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder.

Exhibits

Select words from the choices below to fill in each blank in the following sentence.

After assessing the client and reviewing the client's medical record, the nurse determines that the client could be experiencing which of the following?

The client could be experiencing

and

.

A. "Tell me what is concerning you."

This response is the most therapeutic option. It invites the spouse to share their concerns and feelings, showing empathy and active listening. It opens the door for effective communication and understanding the spouse's perspective.

B. "Your husband is making really good progress."

While this response provides information about the husband's progress, it doesn't directly address the spouse's concerns or feelings. The spouse's emotional state needs to be acknowledged and explored before discussing the husband's progress.

C. "Did your husband say something to upset you?"

This response makes an assumption that the husband said something to upset the spouse. It might come across as accusatory or dismissive of the spouse's feelings. It's important to give the spouse the opportunity to express their emotions in their own words.

D. "Crying helps us let things out and we feel better."

This response offers a general statement about crying, but it doesn't directly address the spouse's concerns or invite further conversation. While it's true that crying can be cathartic, the focus here should be on understanding the spouse's specific worries.

A. Explain to the client that the behavior was unacceptable: While addressing the behavior is important, it is more effective to first establish clear limits and boundaries to prevent further incidents.

B. Explore the truth of the client’s statements: This step involves assessing the client's statements and understanding their perspective, which is important but can be done after setting behavioral limits.

C. Set behavioral limits for the client: Establishing clear behavioral limits is crucial for maintaining safety and order in the psychiatric unit. It helps ensure that the client understands what is expected of them and the consequences of unacceptable behavior. This is particularly important if the client has exhibited aggressive behavior, as it helps prevent further incidents and maintains a safe environment for everyone.

D. Establish a client relationship: Building a therapeutic relationship is essential for effective treatment, but it should be done in the context of a safe environment where clear behavioral expectations have already been established.