Which statement would be the most appropriate documentation for an agitated client?

Which statement would be the most appropriate documentation for an agitated client?

• A. The client was agitated today.
• B. The client was confused this morning.
• C. The client was shaking his fist at the practical nurse at 1100 hours.
• D. The client was behaving inappropriately during the evening shift.

Answer: (C)

Documenting agitation means recording observable actions with exact time and who was involved, so the note is precise and useful for care decisions and safety. The statement describing the client shaking his fist at the practical nurse at 1100 hours does exactly that: it reports a concrete behavior, identifies the staff member involved, and provides a specific time. This kind of entry is objective and actionable, helping with risk assessment, follow-up interventions, and handoffs. By contrast, a vague note like “the client was agitated today” offers no detail about what happened, when, or with whom, making it hard to plan care or assess safety. Statements about confusion or vague, judgment-laden phrasing such as “behaving inappropriately” are similarly imprecise and less useful for documenting what occurred.

Documenting agitation means recording observable actions with exact time and who was involved, so the note is precise and useful for care decisions and safety. The statement describing the client shaking his fist at the practical nurse at 1100 hours does exactly that: it reports a concrete behavior, identifies the staff member involved, and provides a specific time. This kind of entry is objective and actionable, helping with risk assessment, follow-up interventions, and handoffs. By contrast, a vague note like “the client was agitated today” offers no detail about what happened, when, or with whom, making it hard to plan care or assess safety. Statements about confusion or vague, judgment-laden phrasing such as “behaving inappropriately” are similarly imprecise and less useful for documenting what occurred.