Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 8th Edition by Mary Townsend

Exercise 3

The nurse hears John, a client with a history of violence, yelling in the dayroom. The nurse observes his increased agitation, clenched fists, and loud, demanding voice. He is challenging and threatening staff and the other clients. The nurse's priority intervention would be to:
A) Call for assistance.
B) Draw up a syringe of prn haloperidol.
C) Ask John if he would like to talk about his anger.
D) Tell John if he does not calm down he will have to be restrained.