What de-escalation steps should a nurse use when a patient is verbally agitated?

What de-escalation steps should a nurse use when a patient is verbally agitated?

• A. Ignore the patient's concerns.
• B. Escalate to restraints immediately.
• C. Speak calmly, use a respectful tone, maintain personal space, listen, offer choices, and involve family or support when appropriate.
• D. Raise voice to command attention.

Answer: (C)

When someone is verbally agitated, the focus is on calming the situation through therapeutic communication and safety. Speaking in a calm, even tone and using a respectful manner helps lower arousal and reduces defensiveness. Maintaining a safe, non-threatening personal space signals that the nurse is there to help rather than challenge the patient. Listening actively to what the patient is expressing shows care and validates their feelings, which can defuse anger and build trust. Offering choices gives the patient a sense of control, which can reduce power struggles and promote cooperation. Involving family or a support person when appropriate can provide additional reassurance and support, especially if the patient is overwhelmed. Together, these steps create a collaborative, patient-centered approach that prioritizes safety and dignity. Ignore concerns, escalate to restraints immediately, or raise the voice to command attention are not appropriate because they tend to heighten agitation, pose safety risks, and undermine trust and cooperation.

When someone is verbally agitated, the focus is on calming the situation through therapeutic communication and safety. Speaking in a calm, even tone and using a respectful manner helps lower arousal and reduces defensiveness. Maintaining a safe, non-threatening personal space signals that the nurse is there to help rather than challenge the patient. Listening actively to what the patient is expressing shows care and validates their feelings, which can defuse anger and build trust.

Offering choices gives the patient a sense of control, which can reduce power struggles and promote cooperation. Involving family or a support person when appropriate can provide additional reassurance and support, especially if the patient is overwhelmed. Together, these steps create a collaborative, patient-centered approach that prioritizes safety and dignity.

Ignore concerns, escalate to restraints immediately, or raise the voice to command attention are not appropriate because they tend to heighten agitation, pose safety risks, and undermine trust and cooperation.