An older male resident of a long-term care facility is awake at 3:30 AM and wandering down the hall with his pajamas unbuttoned. Which intervention should the practical nurse (PN) Implement?

A. Address the client to determine his needs: The most appropriate intervention is to calmly approach the resident, assess his orientation, and determine what he needs. Older adults may wander due to confusion, discomfort, or unmet needs such as hunger, toileting, or pain. B. Administer a nighttime sedative: Sedatives should not be given without a clear medical indication or provider order, as they increase the risk of falls, confusion, and dependency in older adults. Medication is not the first-line approach for managing nighttime wandering. C. Bring the client to sit in the nursing station: Bringing the resident to the nursing station may offer temporary supervision but does not address the underlying reason for wandering. It may also cause disorientation or agitation if the environment is bright or noisy. D. Direct the client to go back to bed: Simply instructing the resident to return to bed may be ineffective and distressing if he is confused or restless. A calm, needs-based approach that prioritizes understanding the cause of the behavior is safer and more therapeutic.