For which behavior would limit setting be most essential? The patient:

A) clings to the nurse and asks for advice about inconsequential matters.
B) is flirtatious and provocative with staff members of the opposite sex.
C) is hypervigilant and refuses to attend unit activities.
D) urges a suspicious patient to hit anyone who stares.

The correct option is an example of a manipulative behavior. Because manipulation violates the rights of others, limit setting is absolutely necessary. Furthermore, limit setting is necessary in this case because the safety of patients is at risk. Limit setting may be occasionally used with dependent behavior (clinging to the nurse) and histrionic behavior (flirting with staff members), but other therapeutic techniques are also useful. Limit setting is not needed for a patient who is hypervigilant and refuses to attend unit activities; rather, the need to develop trust is central to patient compliance.