If you notice a resident showing distress during care, what should you do?

• A. Continue care to finish quickly.
• B. Ignore and proceed.
• C. Blame the resident.
• D. Stop care, assess the situation, reassure the resident, and notify the nurse.

Answer: (D)

When a resident shows distress, safety and communication come first. Stop the care activity, quickly assess what’s happening, reassure the resident, and notify the nurse. Pausing lets you check for possible causes—pain, breathing trouble, dizziness, fear, or a change in condition—before continuing. Reassurance helps reduce anxiety and preserves the resident’s dignity. The nurse can provide the necessary assessment and orders for next steps. After you’ve alerted the nurse, follow their guidance and document what you observed. Continuing care without addressing distress or blaming the resident isn’t safe or appropriate.