The nurse finds a patient sitting in bed, rocking back and forth, wringing her hands and repeating rapidly, "I can't breathe. My heart is pounding. I think I'm going to die."
Her physician is called to the bedside and tells the nurse, "She is having an anxiety attack." What assessment can be made by the nurse?
a.
Severe anxiety is present in this patient.
b.
Cultural factors control anxiety levels.
c.
Focusing on discharge instruction will ease the anxiety.
d.
The level of anxiety cannot be determined at this point.
ANS: A
A
With increased anxiety, one observes rapid speech, increased purposeless body movements, and subjective statements of discomfort.
B
Although cultural factors may influence how anxiety is expressed, they do not control anxiety.
C
If a person is experiencing anxiety, he or she will not be able to focus on receiving information, including discharge instructions.
D
The level of anxiety can be determined on the basis of the observation of the patient's behavior.
You might also like to view...
Values and beliefs help to define a culture's behavioral standards, which are known as
1. norms. 2. opinions. 3. attitudes. 4. viewpoints.
A nurse is performing a spiritual assessment on a patient with depression. What does the nurse recognize as the key concept to a spiritual assessment?
1. Learn how the patient answers questions about his or her religion and how satisfied the patient is with those answers. 2. Learn how the patient answers questions about the meaning of life and how satisfied the patient is with those answers. 3. Assess how the patient answers questions about formal spiritual practices and how his or her symptoms interfere with these practices. 4. Assess how the patient answers a series of standardized questions that reveal the patient's choices of health care practices and religious choices.
What can the long-term care nurse do to best relieve anxiety in a female resident?
a. Stimulate her with group activity. b. Sedate her to allow her to sleep. c. Provide her with coffee for relaxation. d. Offer her a diversion of a quiet activity.
A client has been prescribed levothyroxine (Levothroid). What medication information should the nurse provide?
1. "It may take a few weeks for you to see the full benefits from this drug." 2. "Be sure to keep all of your follow-up appointments." 3. "Take this medication at whatever time you eat your evening meal." 4. "Do not start a fiber laxative without first discussing it with your health care team." 5. "Take your calcium supplement at least 4 hours after taking this drug."