A nurse is collecting data from a client who reports drinking alcoholic beverages daily but has not consumed alcohol in the last 24 hr. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a manifestation of alcohol withdrawal?

A. Allowing the client to choose activities may lead to decision fatigue or overwhelm due to the manic state.
B. Initiating physical exercise could help in redirecting excess energy, but it must be carefully monitored.
C. Encouraging the client to spend time with others might increase stimulation and potentially exacerbate the mania.
D. Clarity and specificity in communication are essential when caring for a client experiencing mania. Manic episodes can affect a client's ability to concentrate and process information. Providing clear instructions and explanations helps ensure the client understands what is expected and can follow through with necessary self-care and treatment activities.

A. Obsessive behaviors, such as repetitive actions or fixations on specific thoughts or tasks, can be indicative of delirium. Delirium often manifests with altered behavior patterns that are unusual for the individual, including obsessive or compulsive-like behaviors that are not typical of their baseline mental status. However, this is not specific to delirium.
B. Fluctuating orientation, where the client is sometimes alert and oriented and at other times confused or disoriented, is a hallmark of delirium. Unlike dementia, which typically presents with a more steady decline in cognitive function, delirium is characterized by rapid changes in mental status over hours to days. This fluctuation is important to note as it strongly suggests delirium rather than other chronic cognitive impairments.
C. Gradual memory loss reported by family members is more suggestive of chronic conditions such as dementia rather than delirium. Delirium, in contrast, is characterized by acute onset and fluctuating course rather than a gradual decline in cognitive abilities over time.
D. Depression can coexist with delirium, but a consistent state of depression without acute changes in mental status is less indicative of delirium. Delirium is characterized by rapid changes in cognition and behavior rather than a persistent mood disorder. Therefore, while depression should be assessed and managed appropriately, it is not typically a sign of delirium unless there are acute changes in mental status accompanying it.