The nursing assistant is caring for a client with dementia in the hospital. The assistant enters the client's room with the breakfast tray to find the client fully dressed. The client states, "I have to catch the bus, or I will be late to work." What is the best statement for the assistant to respond with?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nursing assistant needs to accept the client's reality and then redirect the behavior to keep the resident safe, content, and able to maintain a sense of importance. Using validation, the best statement is, "You still have time to eat breakfast because the bus is delayed." This redirects the client's attention to breakfast so the client eats and may forget about work. Because the client's reality is that it's time for work, stating the client is retired will not help. Stating the nursing assistant's reality that the resident is confused or needs help with the hospital gown conflicts with the client's reality and can cause frustration and anger.

The Nursing Assistant Is Caring for a Client with Dementia