For a client with bipolar disorder in acute mania, which finding is the priority for the nurse to address?

In a client experiencing acute mania associated with bipolar disorder, the lack of sleep is particularly concerning and should be prioritized. Sleep disturbances are a core feature of acute mania, and the absence of sleep can exacerbate manic symptoms, leading to increased agitation, hallucinations, or even risk for self-harm or harm to others.

Sleep deprivation can magnify the intensity of manic episodes, impair judgment, and increase the likelihood of potential crises. Therefore, addressing the lack of sleep helps to stabilize the client's condition and mitigate further complications.

While rapid speech, increased energy, and distractibility are also prominent symptoms of mania, they do not pose the same immediate risk to the client's safety and mental stability as a lack of sleep. Therefore, the nurse must first focus on interventions related to sleep in order to support the overall stabilization of the client’s mental health.