A nurse is planning care for a client who has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy that has not improved after pharmacologic treatment. Which of the following procedures should the nurse anticipate the health care provider ordering?

A. Confusion: Individuals with Alzheimer's disease often experience confusion due to memory loss, disorientation, and difficulty processing information. Confusion can contribute to wandering behavior as the individual may become lost or disoriented in familiar surroundings, leading them to wander in search of familiar people or places.

C. Agitation: Agitation, characterized by restlessness, pacing, or irritability, is commonly observed in individuals with Alzheimer's disease. Agitation can be triggered by various factors such as environmental stimuli, changes in routine, or unmet needs. It can escalate and prompt wandering behavior as the individual seeks to alleviate discomfort or agitation.

E. Distraction: Individuals with Alzheimer's disease may easily become distracted by environmental stimuli or sensory cues, which can lead to wandering behavior. Distraction can impair the individual's ability to maintain attention to their surroundings, increasing the likelihood of wandering episodes.

The following options are not directly associated with wandering behavior in individuals with Alzheimer's disease:

B. Distress: While distress may be experienced by individuals with Alzheimer's disease due to various factors such as confusion, agitation, or environmental changes, it is not a specific manifestation that puts the client at risk for wandering. Distress may exacerbate wandering behavior in some cases but is not a primary risk factor.

D. Depression: Depression is a common comorbidity in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and can contribute to overall behavioral changes and functional decline. However, depression alone is not a direct manifestation that puts the client at risk for wandering. Wandering behavior is more closely associated with cognitive impairment, agitation, and environmental factors rather than depression.

A. A client transferred to the medical unit 1 hour ago, after staying 3 days in the ICU for severe blood pressure issues: This client is at the greatest risk for developing delirium due to several factors: recent transfer from the intensive care unit (ICU), history of severe blood pressure issues requiring ICU admission, and the potential for experiencing significant physiological and psychological stressors during the ICU stay. Patients who have been in the ICU are at increased risk for delirium due to factors such as sedative use, mechanical ventilation, and critical illness.

B. A client who has been on the medical unit for a week following a car accident and is waiting for transfer to a rehab facility when a bed becomes available: While this client may have experienced significant trauma from the car accident, they have been stable on the medical unit for a week, which reduces the immediate risk of developing delirium compared to the client recently transferred from the ICU. However, ongoing assessment and monitoring are still necessary.

C. A client who has been NPO for 3 hours, receiving IV fluids, and has not been prescribed any medications: While fasting and receiving IV fluids may contribute to dehydration, which can increase the risk of delirium, this client does not have the same level of acuity or recent history of critical illness as the client transferred from the ICU. Additionally, the absence of prescribed medications reduces the risk of medication-related delirium.

D. A client who is 4 days postoperative following knee surgery and scheduled for discharge home later this morning: This client is in the subacute phase of recovery and is scheduled for discharge home, indicating stability and reduced risk of developing delirium compared to the client recently transferred from the ICU. However, postoperative patients are still at risk for delirium, particularly in the immediate postoperative period, and should be monitored accordingly.