A nurse is developing a care plan. Which intervention is most appropriate for the nursing diagnostic statement Risk for loneliness related to impaired verbal communication?

A) Provide the patient with a writing board each shift.
B) Obtain an interpreter for the patient as soon as possible.
C) Assist the patient in performing swallowing exercises each shift.
D) Ask the family to provide a sitter to remain with the patient at all times.

Choose interventions to alter the etiological (related to) factor or causes of the diagnosis. If the etiology is impaired verbal communication, then the nurse should choose an intervention that will address the problem. Providing the patient with a writing board will allow the patient to communicate by writing because the patient is unable to communicate verbally at this time. Obtaining an interpreter might be an appropriate intervention if the patient spoke a foreign language. Assisting with swallowing exercises will help the patient with swallowing, which is a different etiology than impaired verbal communication. Asking the family to provide a sitter at all times is many times unrealistic and does not relate to the impaired verbal communication; the goal would relate to the loneliness.