Nursing care for a client in the manic phase of bipolar disorder should include which intervention?

• A. Provide the client with finger foods
• B. Encourage prolonged, structured meals
• C. Limit fluids
• D. Increase caffeine intake

Answer: (A)

In mania, the priority is to maintain energy and nutrition without increasing agitation or interrupting the patient’s activity. The best approach is to offer finger foods—small, easy-to-eat items that require minimal time, utensils, or setup. This supports the patient who may be pacing, talking rapidly, or unable to sit for a long meal. Finger foods let them snack frequently and safely, helping prevent energy dips and dehydration while staying compatible with a high-activity state.

Why other approaches aren’t as suitable: requiring prolonged, structured meals demands sustained focus and a quiet, settled environment, which mania often disrupts. Limiting fluids risks dehydration and electrolyte imbalance, and it contradicts the need for steady hydration during high activity. Increasing caffeine would likely worsen restlessness, anxiety, and sleep disturbance, potentially intensifying manic symptoms.

So, providing finger foods aligns with the need for flexible, rapid nourishment that fits the patient’s level of activity and focus during a manic episode.