A nurse is assessing a client's level of anxiety and coping mechanisms. Which statement by the nurse is appropriate during the assessment?

Choice A rationale:

Asking the client about their favorite hobbies is an appropriate statement during the assessment. This open-ended question encourages the client to talk about positive and enjoyable aspects of their life, providing insight into their interests and potential sources of relaxation. It also helps build rapport and trust between the nurse and the client.

Choice B rationale:

Advising the client to avoid anxiety-inducing situations oversimplifies anxiety management. Avoidance can reinforce anxiety and prevent the client from developing effective coping strategies. Encouraging gradual exposure to manageable stressors is often a more helpful approach.

Choice C rationale:

Asking "Why do you feel this way?" can be perceived as confrontational and may put the client on the defensive. It might hinder open communication and prevent the client from fully expressing their feelings. Instead, using more open-ended and nonjudgmental questions is recommended.

Choice D rationale:

Minimizing anxiety by stating that "Anxiety is not a big deal, everyone feels it sometimes" is dismissive of the client's emotions. It invalidates their experience and fails to acknowledge the impact anxiety may have on their well-being. Providing empathy and understanding is crucial in therapeutic communication.

Choice A rationale:

Blocking the effects of adrenaline is not the mechanism of action for anxiolytics. Anxiolytics primarily target neurotransmitter systems in the brain, not adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) pathways.

Choice B rationale:

Increasing the availability of neurotransmitters is not the primary mechanism of anxiolytics. While neurotransmitters are involved, anxiolytics like benzodiazepines and SSRIs focus on specific neurotransmitter systems, such as GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and serotonin, rather than merely increasing neurotransmitter availability.

Choice C rationale:

Modulating the activity of glutamate is not the primary mechanism of anxiolytics. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter, and its modulation is more relevant to agents used in conditions like schizophrenia, rather than anxiety disorders.

Choice D rationale:

Enhancing the activity of serotonin and norepinephrine is the correct mechanism of anxiolytics. Medications like SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and SNRIs (Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors) work by increasing the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain. Serotonin and norepinephrine play critical roles in mood regulation and anxiety modulation.