Which short-term outcome should the nurse include in the initial treatment plan for a client with dementia?

A. Verbalizes no hallucinations and delusions for 48 hours: While reducing hallucinations and delusions may be a long-term goal, clients with dementia often have persistent cognitive deficits that make this an unrealistic short-term outcome. Hallucinations may fluctuate and cannot always be reliably controlled in the initial treatment phase. B. Performs activities of daily living for 3 sequential days: Focusing on functional abilities such as feeding, dressing, and grooming is a realistic and measurable short-term outcome for clients with dementia. Achieving independence in activities of daily living over a few consecutive days provides immediate feedback on progress and promotes autonomy and self-esteem. C. Remembers family member's names at their next visit: Short-term memory deficits are a core feature of dementia, making recall of names unreliable. Setting this as a short-term outcome is unrealistic in the initial treatment plan and may lead to frustration for the client and caregivers. D. Expresses no paranoid ideation for at least 1 week: Paranoid ideation may persist or fluctuate due to cognitive impairment. While reducing anxiety and paranoia is a treatment goal, expecting complete absence over a week is not feasible for initial short-term planning. Emphasis should be on manageable, observable behaviors.