A nurse is educating a client about GAD. What essential information should the nurse include?

Choice D rationale:

Responding with "I understand you're having trouble focusing" is how the nurse should appropriately respond. This response acknowledges the client's experience and shows understanding of their symptoms. It encourages further communication and allows the client to express their feelings. It's important to address the client's restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and racing thoughts rather than attributing them to tiredness (Choice C) or suggesting keeping busy (Choice B), which may not address the underlying anxiety.

Choice A rationale:

Responding with "You seem to be experiencing a lot of physical symptoms" might overlook the underlying anxiety and focus solely on the physical aspects, missing the opportunity to explore the client's emotional state and provide appropriate support.

Choice A rationale:

This is the most pertinent information to obtain during the assessment of a client with GAD. Knowing the client's preferred relaxation technique can help tailor interventions to manage their anxiety effectively.

Choice B rationale:

While family history of physical illnesses can be relevant, it is not the priority when assessing a client with GAD. The focus should be on understanding the client's anxiety symptoms and coping mechanisms.

Choice C rationale:

The client's level of physical activity can be important, but it is not as directly related to managing GAD as understanding their preferred relaxation techniques.

Choice D rationale:

Recent social interactions may be relevant, but they are not as crucial as identifying the client's preferred methods of relaxation in order to address their anxiety symptoms.