Clinically managing disruptive behavior on the ward

1. The inability to manage disruptive yelling has lead to the overuse of physical restraints, inappropriate use of psychotropic medications, and provoked feelings of powerlessness, helplessness, and frustration among caregivers that could detract from the overall quality of care. 2. Behavioral analysis provides a framework for caregivers to identify, modify, and develop practical means to alleviate and to monitor a problem. 3. Noisy behavior can become more manageable by combining the effects of improved environment, continuous monitoring and simplification of medication, individualized nursing care, and a sense of creativity. 4. Caregivers need to examine their own feelings and behavior and to understand that they have a responsibility to create an environment in which their clients can respond positively.