A nurse on a mental health unit is caring for a client. Exhibits The nurse is planning care for the client. Which of the following actions should the nurse plan to take? (Select all that apply.)

A. Instruct the client on coping mechanisms and relaxation techniques: Teaching coping skills and relaxation strategies is essential for clients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) to manage intense anxiety, emotional dysregulation, and impulsivity. These interventions reduce physiological arousal, improve emotional control, and support engagement in therapy. B. Encourage the client to verbalize their feelings: Facilitating verbal expression of emotions helps clients with BPD process intense affect, reduces impulsive or aggressive behaviors, and promotes insight. Encouraging communication enhances therapeutic rapport and fosters healthier coping strategies rather than acting out behaviors. C. Establish consequences for unacceptable behaviors: Consistent, predictable consequences for behaviors such as verbal aggression or rule violations provide structure and safety in the therapeutic environment. Clear behavioral expectations help clients with BPD understand limits and prevent escalation of impulsive or harmful actions. D. Bargain with the client when setting behavioral expectations: Bargaining undermines consistency and can reinforce maladaptive behaviors. For clients with BPD, inconsistent responses may increase boundary testing and escalate emotional dysregulation, making this approach inappropriate in care planning. E. Provide clear boundaries for behavior toward peers and staff members: Establishing and maintaining clear boundaries is critical in BPD care. It protects the client, staff, and peers, prevents manipulation or impulsive aggression, and creates a safe therapeutic environment while modeling appropriate interpersonal interactions. F. Determine if the client is having thoughts of harming themselves or others: Given the client’s recent suicide attempt and history of self-injury, ongoing assessment of suicidal or homicidal ideation is a top priority. Regularly evaluating risk ensures timely interventions to maintain safety and prevent harm.