The nursing assistant is helping a resident who has painful arthritis. The resident has unkempt hair and an unbuttoned shirt. The nursing assistant asked the resident to get ready to go to the dining room for breakfast and the resident states, "Just leave me alone, my hands hurt and I don't want you hurrying me!" The resident has been grouchy and uncooperative on a regular basis. What is the best action for the nursing assistant to take?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nursing assistant (NA) establishes that the resident is in pain and has trouble using brushing hair or using fine motor skills to button the shirt. The grouchy and uncooperative attitude arises from the pain and the NA should not take it personally. The resident is trying to maintain some control in life. The best action for the NA is to use empathy (imagining oneself in another's situation) and state, "It must be difficult to brush your hair and button your shirt, and may I help?" This gives the resident control by having the opportunity to grant permission for the help. Ordering the breakfast tray and leaving the resident with unkempt hair and an unbuttoned shirt demonstrates no empathy and leads to social isolation and a decreased self-esteem. Grabbing the brush and quickly fixing the hair and buttoning the shirt violates the right to consent for care and is also an invasion of privacy. Explaining to the resident that grouchy and uncooperative behaviors are unacceptable fails to provide the empathy the resident needs for their situation.

The Nursing Assistant Is Helping a Resident Who Has Painful