A nurse in a mental health facility is caring for a client who reports palpitations and a sense of impending doom. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
Administer an anti-anxiety medication.
Explore behaviors that have helped to reduce the client's anxiety in the past.
Minimize environmental stimuli in the client's surroundings.
Explain to the client that anxiety causes physical manifestations
The Correct Answer is C
The client is experiencing palpitations and a sense of impending doom, which may indicate a heightened state of anxiety or a panic attack. Minimizing environmental stimuli can help create a calming and safe environment for the client. By reducing noise, bright lights, and other potentially distressing stimuli, the nurse can create a more soothing atmosphere that may help alleviate the client's anxiety.
While exploring behaviors that have helped to reduce the client's anxiety in the past and explaining to the client that anxiety causes physical manifestations are important actions, they may not provide immediate relief or address the client's immediate distress.
Administering an anti-anxiety medication may be considered if the client's symptoms persist or worsen, but it is not the first action to be taken. The nurse should prioritize non-pharmacological interventions and create a supportive environment before considering medication administration.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
After a tonic-clonic seizure, the nurse should first check the child for any injuries, particularly in the oral cavity. This is because during a seizure, the child's tongue may have been biten, or there may be other oral injuries. Therefore, it is essential to check the oral cavity for any injury or bleeding.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
Hyperactive bowel sounds refer to an increased intensity, frequency, and loudness of bowel sounds. They are typically described as loud, high-pitched, and occurring more frequently than normal. This can indicate increased bowel motility and may be associated with conditions such as diarrhea, gastroenteritis, or bowel obstruction.
No sounds heard after listening for 3 to 5 minutes: This describes absent or hypoactive bowel sounds, where no sounds or very few sounds are heard. It can indicate decreased or absent bowel motility and may be seen in conditions such as ileus or peritonitis.
Sounds are soft and at a rate of 1/min: This describes normal or hypoactive bowel sounds, where the sounds are relatively quiet and occur at a slower rate (usually 5-34 sounds per minute). It may be observed in situations such as during sleep, after eating, or in certain conditions like constipation or paralytic ileus.
Indicates decreased motility: This is an inaccurate statement for hyperactive bowel sounds.
Hyperactive bowel sounds actually indicate increased motility, as mentioned earlier. Decreased motility would be associated with hypoactive or absent bowel sounds.
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