A client is experiencing a panic attack characterized by intense fear, hyperventilation, chest pain, and feelings of impending doom. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate to help the client during this panic stage?
Administer a sedative medication.
Encourage the client to talk about their feelings and provide a quiet environment to reduce stimulation.
Engage the client in detailed problem-solving to distract from the anxiety.
Allow the client to express feelings fully without offering any guidance or redirection.
The Correct Answer is B
Choice A reason: Sedative medications may be used in severe cases, but immediate nursing care focuses on nonpharmacologic interventions to ensure safety and reduce stimulation. Medication is not the first-line action.
Choice B reason: Providing a calm environment with reduced external stimuli while encouraging expression of feelings helps the client regain control and decreases anxiety during a panic episode. This is the most appropriate nursing intervention.
Choice C reason: Detailed problem-solving requires higher-level cognitive functioning, which is impaired during a panic attack. Attempting this intervention may increase the client’s distress.
Choice D reason: Allowing expression without guidance offers no therapeutic support and may leave the client overwhelmed by panic symptoms, prolonging the episode.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is ["B","C","E"]
Explanation
Choice A reason: Social withdrawal is a negative symptom of schizophrenia, reflecting reduced engagement rather than an excess or distortion of normal function.
Choice B reason: Delusional thinking is a hallmark positive symptom, representing a distortion of reality through fixed false beliefs.
Choice C reason: Bizarre or disorganized behavior, such as unusual movements or incoherent actions, is a positive symptom reflecting disruption in normal functioning.
Choice D reason: Flat affect is a negative symptom, reflecting diminished emotional expression rather than an added or distorted behavior.
Choice E reason: Auditory hallucinations are classic positive symptoms, involving perception of voices or sounds that are not present in reality.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
Choice A reason: This reverses the definitions of sympathy and empathy. Empathy is not about feeling sorry but about understanding and reflecting feelings.
Choice B reason: Sympathy is pity or sorrow for someone else’s suffering, while empathy means perceiving and validating the client’s experience without judgment, which is essential for therapeutic communication.
Choice C reason: Sympathy does not create emotional distance; instead, it often involves pity that can actually reduce meaningful connection. Empathy provides closeness while maintaining professional boundaries.
Choice D reason: Sympathy and empathy are not interchangeable. They differ in depth and therapeutic effectiveness, making this statement incorrect.
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