How should a nursing assistant respond to a resident who becomes agitated?

Responding to a resident who becomes agitated requires a careful and thoughtful approach. Using a soothing tone and remaining calm helps create a supportive environment that can alleviate the resident's discomfort. When a nursing assistant exhibits calmness, it can have a calming effect on the resident, promoting a sense of safety and security. A soothing tone conveys empathy and understanding, which can help de-escalate the agitation effectively.

By actively listening and acknowledging the resident's feelings, the nursing assistant can provide reassurance, which is crucial in managing agitation. This approach also fosters trust and rapport between the resident and the nursing assistant, encouraging open communication. The primary goal in handling agitation is to reduce anxiety and distress, ensuring that the resident feels heard and supported.

Other approaches, such as strict discipline or raising one's voice, can escalate the situation further, causing increased anxiety for the resident. Ignoring the agitation is also inappropriate, as it fails to address the resident's needs and may contribute to a worsening state of distress. Thus, the calm and soothing response is the most effective method in these situations.