Anxiety and panic disorder practice
questions with complete solutions
2) Reduce stimuli in the immediate environment.
4) Administer antianxiety medication as ordered.
5) Communicate with simple words and brief messages.
Feedback 1: A nurse should stay with a client who is experiencing a panic attack in order to
provide a feeling of security and to ensure personal safety.
Feedback 2: Keeping immediate surroundings as free as possible of stimuli (dim lighting, few
people, simple décor) helps the client return to a calmer state.
Feedback 3: In an intensely anxious situation, a client is unable to comprehend anything but the
most elemental communication. Any instructions given at this time may well increase, not
decrease, anxiety.
Feedback 4: Administering antianxiety medication, as ordered, provides the client relief from
the immobilizing effects of anxiety.
Feedback 5: When communicating with a client experiencing a panic attack, the nurse needs to
use simple words and brief message - correct answer ✔✔ When caring for a client who is
experiencing a panic attack, which of the following nursing actions should be implemented?
Select all that apply.
1) Leave the client alone to maintain privacy.
2) Reduce stimuli in the immediate environment.
,3) Instruct the client regarding unit rules and regulations.
4) Administer antianxiety medication as ordered.
5) Communicate with simple words and brief messages.
1) Stay with the client and offer support.
During a panic attack, the client is experiencing extreme levels of anxiety. The symptoms
experienced may mimic life-threatening physiological symptoms, such as chest pain and feelings
of suffocation and/or impending doom. Clients need reassurance that these symptoms are
psychologically, not physiologically, based. It is a priority to be present for the client and offer
this support.
Distracting the client by redirecting him to physical activities may increase, rather than
decrease, anxiety levels. A more appropriate approach would be to decrease environmental
stimuli while staying with the client and offering support.
Educating a client about the etiology and management of panic disorders is important.
However, this discussion is not appropriate or effective when anxiety is at a panic level, because
of decreased attention span and inability to concentrate.
Encouraging t - correct answer ✔✔ A client is experiencing a panic attack. He states, "I'm losing
control. I feel like I'm going crazy." Which nursing intervention takes priority?
1) Stay with the client and offer support.
2) Distract the client by redirecting him to physical activities.
3) Teach about the etiology and management of panic disorders.
4) Encourage the client to express his feelings.
, 1) Facilitate the client's development of insight and self-awareness in relation to his or her
illness.
Self-awareness and insight into an individual's stressors and anxiety responses lay the
foundation for effective treatment and intervention. The nurse generalist plays a key role in
helping clients develop this awareness and insight.
Deciding which antianxiety agent is most appropriate is the role of the physician and/or
advanced practice nurse.
Use of specific behavior therapies, such as implosion and systematic desensitization, is the role
of a therapist trained in such techniques.
Conducting psychological tests is a role of licensed psychologists rather than nurse generalists. -
correct answer ✔✔ Which of the following is a primary function of nurse generalists in helping
clients with anxiety and related disorders?
1) Facilitate the client's development of insight and self-awareness in relation to his or her
illness.
2) Decide which antianxiety agent is most appropriate to treat the symptoms.
3) Use behavioral therapies such as systematic desensitization and implosion.
4) Conduct psychological tests to support proper diagnosis of the anxiety disorder.
1) Symptoms are psychological coping mechanisms.
Symptoms of PTSD include psychological numbing, flashbacks, nightmares, and explosive anger.
These symptoms are coping mechanisms used to deal with anxiety by blocking memories of
traumatic events. Resolution of the post-trauma response is largely dependent on the
effectiveness of the coping strategies employed.
questions with complete solutions
2) Reduce stimuli in the immediate environment.
4) Administer antianxiety medication as ordered.
5) Communicate with simple words and brief messages.
Feedback 1: A nurse should stay with a client who is experiencing a panic attack in order to
provide a feeling of security and to ensure personal safety.
Feedback 2: Keeping immediate surroundings as free as possible of stimuli (dim lighting, few
people, simple décor) helps the client return to a calmer state.
Feedback 3: In an intensely anxious situation, a client is unable to comprehend anything but the
most elemental communication. Any instructions given at this time may well increase, not
decrease, anxiety.
Feedback 4: Administering antianxiety medication, as ordered, provides the client relief from
the immobilizing effects of anxiety.
Feedback 5: When communicating with a client experiencing a panic attack, the nurse needs to
use simple words and brief message - correct answer ✔✔ When caring for a client who is
experiencing a panic attack, which of the following nursing actions should be implemented?
Select all that apply.
1) Leave the client alone to maintain privacy.
2) Reduce stimuli in the immediate environment.
,3) Instruct the client regarding unit rules and regulations.
4) Administer antianxiety medication as ordered.
5) Communicate with simple words and brief messages.
1) Stay with the client and offer support.
During a panic attack, the client is experiencing extreme levels of anxiety. The symptoms
experienced may mimic life-threatening physiological symptoms, such as chest pain and feelings
of suffocation and/or impending doom. Clients need reassurance that these symptoms are
psychologically, not physiologically, based. It is a priority to be present for the client and offer
this support.
Distracting the client by redirecting him to physical activities may increase, rather than
decrease, anxiety levels. A more appropriate approach would be to decrease environmental
stimuli while staying with the client and offering support.
Educating a client about the etiology and management of panic disorders is important.
However, this discussion is not appropriate or effective when anxiety is at a panic level, because
of decreased attention span and inability to concentrate.
Encouraging t - correct answer ✔✔ A client is experiencing a panic attack. He states, "I'm losing
control. I feel like I'm going crazy." Which nursing intervention takes priority?
1) Stay with the client and offer support.
2) Distract the client by redirecting him to physical activities.
3) Teach about the etiology and management of panic disorders.
4) Encourage the client to express his feelings.
, 1) Facilitate the client's development of insight and self-awareness in relation to his or her
illness.
Self-awareness and insight into an individual's stressors and anxiety responses lay the
foundation for effective treatment and intervention. The nurse generalist plays a key role in
helping clients develop this awareness and insight.
Deciding which antianxiety agent is most appropriate is the role of the physician and/or
advanced practice nurse.
Use of specific behavior therapies, such as implosion and systematic desensitization, is the role
of a therapist trained in such techniques.
Conducting psychological tests is a role of licensed psychologists rather than nurse generalists. -
correct answer ✔✔ Which of the following is a primary function of nurse generalists in helping
clients with anxiety and related disorders?
1) Facilitate the client's development of insight and self-awareness in relation to his or her
illness.
2) Decide which antianxiety agent is most appropriate to treat the symptoms.
3) Use behavioral therapies such as systematic desensitization and implosion.
4) Conduct psychological tests to support proper diagnosis of the anxiety disorder.
1) Symptoms are psychological coping mechanisms.
Symptoms of PTSD include psychological numbing, flashbacks, nightmares, and explosive anger.
These symptoms are coping mechanisms used to deal with anxiety by blocking memories of
traumatic events. Resolution of the post-trauma response is largely dependent on the
effectiveness of the coping strategies employed.
