A client with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) spends 2-3 hours daily performing handwashing rituals, causing their hands to become chapped and raw. What is the nurse's most appropriate initial intervention?

✓ Correct Answer: Option C

The nurse's initial priority is to address the physical harm (chapped hands) and establish a predictable routine to manage anxiety, rather than immediately stopping the ritual, which can increase distress.