A patient on a psychiatric unit is found pacing the halls and angrily punching at the wall. The nurse's primary goal should be to

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should help the patient own the angry feelings by getting the patient to verbalize things that make him or her angry. Acknowledging a patient's anger may prevent an expression of abusive ranting. It is essential that the nurse use empathetic statements or active listening to acknowledge the patient's anger and maintain a nonthreatening demeanor before moving on to try to discuss the issue. The goal is to maintain safety while helping the patient. Psychiatric patients can be unpredictable and at this point would not be likely to respond positively to a suggestion such as writing in a journal. Speaking assertively or in a loud voice may escalate the situation, and the patient is already out of control.

A Patient on a Psychiatric Unit Is Found Pacing the Halls