Question

A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder must brush the hair back from the forehead 15 times before performing any other activity. the nurse notices that the client's hair is thinning and that the skin on the forehead is irritated. what is the nurse's highest priority in planning care for this client?

Answer 1

The nurse should carry a plan of care in the client as the hair of the client is thinning and the skin on the client’s forehead is getting irritated because of the client’s disorder. The highest priority of plan of care to the client is being able to set limits on the behavior of the client, In order to prevent further harm from  occurring to the client as well as towards other people.

Answer 2

Answer:

The nurse must set consistent limits on patient behavior.

Explanation:

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a psychiatric anxiety disorder whose main feature is the presence of recurrent bouts of obsessions and compulsions.

The patient shown in the above question is an explicit case of obsessive compulsive disorder, where the patient brushes her hair 15 times each time she performs an activity. The problem is that this behavior is impairing the health of the hair and forehead skin of this patient. This behavior is harmful and needs to be stopped. For this reason, the nurse's priority should be to limit the patient's behavior.

The nurse should advise the noble patient on something she should do at a time when the urge to brush her hair constantly arises.