An elderly patient with multi-infarct dementia is striking out with her arms and kicking at people who walk past in the hall.The nurse determines that the patient believes she is at home and that the other patients have broken into her home.The clinical nurse specialist suggests that staff use validation.Which of the following responses reflect this intervention?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Validation involves reducing distress by validating the essence of the patient's experience.By explaining her purpose for being with the patient,the nurse reduces the patient's tendency to see her as one of the home invaders.Asking the patient to talk about her home is the beginning of the validation process;subsequently the nurse will acknowledge the patient's desire to be home,gently guide the patient to reconsider whether her present location is her home,and whether the others might in fact belong there.The other choices are all variations on reorienting the patient to reality and are less likely to be effective (or may even be counterproductive in some patients).

An Elderly Patient with Multi-Infarct Dementia Is Striking Out with Her