A female client with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder is admitted to the hospital for a cardiac catheterization. The afternoon before the procedure, the client begins to keep detailed notes of the nursing care she is receiving, and reports her findings to the nurse at bedtime. What action should the nurse implement?

A. Explain to the client that her behavior invades the rights of the nursing staff: This approach is confrontational and dismisses the client’s coping mechanism. It does not promote a therapeutic nurse-client relationship. B. Teach the client strategies to control her obsessive-compulsive behavior: This is not the appropriate time for teaching behavioral strategies, especially when the client is experiencing stress related to an upcoming invasive procedure. C. Ask the client to explain why she is keeping a detailed record of her nursing care: While this might offer insight, it can come across as intrusive or judgmental. It also shifts the focus away from emotional support. D. Encourage the client to express her feelings regarding the upcoming procedure: Clients with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder often rely on control and orderliness to manage anxiety. The nurse should recognize that the client’s behavior may be a coping mechanism for procedure-related stress. Encouraging expression of feelings promotes trust and addresses the underlying anxiety.