When planning care for a client with Borderline Personality Disorder, what should the nurse prioritize?

When planning care for a client with Borderline Personality Disorder, prioritizing safety is essential. Individuals with this disorder often experience intense emotions and may engage in self-destructive behaviors, which can lead to self-harm or suicidal actions. Ensuring safety involves assessing the client for any immediate risk factors and implementing interventions to minimize harm.

Once safety is established, the nurse can then focus on other important aspects of care, such as setting therapeutic boundaries, fostering empathy, and facilitating group therapy. However, these interventions must be secondary to ensuring the client's immediate safety, as addressing any potential risk is fundamental in providing effective psychiatric nursing care. This approach not only helps stabilize the client but also lays a foundation for building trust and rapport, which are critical for therapeutic relationships in managing Borderline Personality Disorder effectively.