The day shift nurse at the long-term care facility learns that a patient with dementia experienced sundowning late in the afternoon on the previous two days. Which is the best action by the nurse?

The correct answer is A: Keep window blinds open during the day. This is because exposure to natural light during the day helps regulate the body's circadian rhythm, which can reduce symptoms of sundowning in patients with dementia. Keeping the window blinds open allows the patient to receive adequate sunlight, which can improve their sleep-wake cycle and reduce confusion and agitation in the late afternoon. Providing hourly orientation to time and place (choice C) may be overwhelming for the patient, and moving the patient to a quiet room in the afternoon (choice D) may not address the root cause of sundowning. Having the patient take a mid-morning nap (choice B) may disrupt their sleep pattern further.