Mr. L, who has a severe fear of needles, is hospitalized on your medical unit. The laboratory technician enters to draw blood for the routine CBC, and Mr. L begins to cry out, "Get away from me! I can't breathe! I'm having a heart attack!" What should be your first response to Mr. L?

Choice A reason: Deep breathing and coughing exercises help clear the lungs and prevent atelectasis, a common postoperative respiratory complication.

Choice B reason: Incentive spirometry encourages patients to take deep breaths, which can help keep the lungs clear of mucus and prevent pneumonia.

Choice C reason: Leg exercises improve circulation and can help prevent blood clots, which can lead to pulmonary embolism, another serious respiratory complication.

Choice D reason: Early ambulation, or getting the patient moving as soon as possible after surgery, is crucial for preventing respiratory complications by promoting circulation and lung expansion.

Choice E reason: Hand squeezes are not directly related to preventing respiratory complications; they are more associated with preventing circulatory complications.

Choice A reason: Divorce can be a stressor, but it is not universally stressful to every individual; it depends on the person's experience and perception.

Choice B reason: Stress is subjective, and what one person finds stressful may not be stressful to another. Therefore, if the patient identifies an event as stressful, it should be considered as such.

Choice C reason: Loss of job can be a significant stressor due to financial and social implications, but again, it depends on the individual's circumstances and perception.

Choice D reason: Surgery can be a stressor due to its impact on physical health and potential for causing anxiety about medical procedures and outcomes.