What is an appropriate intervention for a patient who is anxious and confused without using physical restraints?

Placing the patient close to the nursing station is an appropriate intervention for managing anxiety and confusion without resorting to physical restraints. This strategy allows for increased supervision and support, providing the patient with a sense of security while ensuring staff can quickly respond to any needs or distress the patient may experience. Proximity to the nursing staff can help alleviate feelings of anxiety by fostering a supportive environment, allowing for frequent check-ins and emotional reassurance.

In contrast, the other choices are less effective in addressing the patient's anxiety and confusion in a manner that promotes their dignity and well-being. Providing sedative medication, while it may address anxiety, does not engage the patient in a supportive manner and can lead to negative side effects or dependency. Encouraging the patient to remain in bed might contribute to feelings of isolation and could increase confusion or anxiety, whereas isolating the patient altogether could heighten distress and sense of abandonment. Each of these options fails to foster a collaborative and reassuring environment compared to positioning the patient near the nursing staff.