A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client following a motor-vehicle crash. The client’s Glasgow coma scale rating is 15.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?

A client who is experiencing a panic attack has a very high level of anxiety and a diminished ability to focus. The nurse should stay with the client and remain calm and reassuring during the panic attack. This can help the client feel safe and supported, and reduce the intensity of the anxiety.

Choice A is wrong because atomoxetine is not an anti-anxiety medication, but a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It has no effect on reducing anxiety and can cause side effects such as insomnia, nausea, and increased blood pressure.

Choice B is wrong because encouraging the client to watch television is not a therapeutic intervention for a panic attack.
Watching television can increase the stimuli in the client’s environment, which can worsen anxiety.
The nurse should maintain an environment with low stimulation for the client experiencing a panic attack. Dim lighting, few people, and minimal distractions can assist the nurse to decrease the client’s level of anxiety.
Choice C is wrong because teaching the client how to meditate is not appropriate during a panic attack.
Meditation is a relaxation technique that can be helpful for preventing or reducing anxiety, but it requires concentration and focus, which are impaired in a panic attack. The nurse should teach the client how to meditate when the client is calm and receptive, not when the client is in crisis.

Bradypnea is abnormally slow breathing, which can be a sign of life-threatening respiratory depression caused by morphine. Respiratory depression is the most serious adverse effect of morphine and can lead to coma and death if not treated promptly. Therefore, the nurse should monitor the child’s respiratory rate and oxygen saturation closely and be prepared to administer naloxone, an opioid antagonist, if needed.

Choice A is wrong because euphoria is a feeling of intense happiness or well-being that is a common side effect of morphine.

Euphoria is not a priority finding and does not indicate a serious complication of morphine.

Choice C is wrong because constipation is a common and chronic side effect of morphine that affects the gastrointestinal system.

Constipation can cause discomfort and complications such as bowel obstruction, but it is not a priority finding compared to respiratory depression.

Choice D is wrong because sedation is another common side effect of morphine that affects the central nervous system.

Sedation can impair the child’s level of consciousness and ability to respond to stimuli, but it is not as urgent as respiratory depression.