Prepare for your NCLEX-RN® exam with a clinical question about how nurses can educate family members about supporting elderly clients in the ICU when they experience temporary confusion.
The adult child of an elderly client in the intensive care unit (ICU) shares, “I’m so worried about my mom. She’s been confused since admission, and she thinks it’s the year 1986. How can I help her get better?” Which is the best response for the nurse to give?
A. “You should let her rest and keep your visits short.”
B. “You should go along with the conversation as if it is 1986.”
C. “We are managing her condition medically, so there is nothing you can do.”
D. “Try to engage your mom in conversation about current events.”
Scroll down for the correct answer!
The correct answer to today’s NCLEX-RN® question is…
D. “Try to engage your mom in conversation about current events.”
Rationale: This client is showing signs of delirium. Reorienting the client to date, time, place, and situation is beneficial for patients with delirium, especially from a familiar face, like a child. The nurse should teach the client’s child to talk about family, friends, and current events to reorient the client and improve their symptoms.
Major Takeaway
Delirium is a condition of temporary confusion that can occur during hospitalization, especially in the intensive care unit (ICU). The nurse should teach family members or caregivers of clients with delirium about the condition and why it occurs. The nurse should advise the family to speak calmly using simple words or phrases, remind the patient of the day and date, and talk about family, friends, and current events. The nurse should encourage the family to bring glasses and hearing aids to the bedside and place familiar objects from home or pictures of loved ones nearby. The nurse should also tell the client’s family members to provide them with their favorite music or television shows, keep them company, and help reassure them if they become confused.
Incorrect Answer Explanations
A. “You should let her rest and keep your visits short.”
Rationale: This client is showing signs of delirium. Visits from family members benefit clients with delirium and should be encouraged; therefore, this is inappropriate advice.
B. “You should go along with the conversation as if it is 1986.”
Rationale: This client is showing signs of delirium. Encouraging false information may further confuse the client; therefore, this is not the best response.
C. “We are managing her condition medically, so there’s nothing you can do.”
Rationale: This client is showing signs of delirium. There are ways family members can help clients with delirium while they are in the hospital; therefore, this is not the best response by the nurse.
Want to learn more about this topic?
Watch the Osmosis video: Delirium: Nursing
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