A nurse is admitting a patient exhibiting manic behavior. The patient reports recent personal stressors, including the loss of her mother and a divorce. What should be the nurse's priority action? What is the priority action for a manic patient?

The correct answer is C: Prevent self-directed violence. When dealing with a manic patient, the priority action should always be to ensure the safety of the patient and others. Manic episodes can lead to impulsive and risky behaviors, including self-harm or suicide attempts. By prioritizing the prevention of self-directed violence, the nurse can address the immediate threat to the patient's well-being. Encouraging self-care (choice A) and identifying coping behaviors (choice B) are important aspects of care but may not be the most urgent in this situation. Identifying support systems (choice D) is also valuable but does not address the immediate safety concerns presented by the manic behavior.