A psychotic patient tells the nurse, "Get away from me or I'll hit you. You're sucking the thoughts out of my head." To best de-escalate the situation, the nurse should:

Question

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The nurse should do as the patient requests when the request is reasonable. Patients perceiving alterations in reality often need increased personal space to feel less anxious. Denials, touching, and threatening are likely to promote escalation of violent behavior.

A Psychotic Patient Tells the Nurse, "Get Away from Me