Bathing a Client With Dementia Who Becomes Agitated

Psychosocial Needs · Question from the ATI PN Fundamentals 2023 Proctored Exam study set

Correct answer: Stop the bath if the client becomes agitated

Why this is the answer

Stopping and reassessing when a client with dementia becomes agitated prevents escalation, protects safety, and preserves the client's dignity and trust.

The bigger concept

With dementia, agitation during care is communication — the client is telling you something is wrong (cold, fear, pain, overstimulation). Pushing through to finish the task escalates behavior and can lead to injury. Stop, reassess, calm the environment, and try again later or with a different approach such as a towel bath. This is also a dignity issue: the goal is a clean, safe client, not a completed checklist.

Related Psychosocial Needs practice questions

• Phone Requests for Client Information and HIPAA
• Responding to 'I Don't Know What to Expect'
• Communicating With a Client Who Has Hearing Loss
• Explaining a DNR Order to a Client's Partner
• Responding to a Parent Whose Preschooler Refuses to Eat

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