NURSING432- FA Anne Olsen | Interview the Patient | Review Questions and Answers.

Erika Hightower Anne Olsen Tell me about what has been happening in the last 8 months. Rationale Relevancy Your Answer It is important to assess the client’s perspective about her own health. Relevant Relevant Client: My life seems like it has fallen apart. I just can’t seem to cope with anything. I feel stressed all the time and have anxiety attacks. 2. Have you experienced these feelings in the past? Rationale Relevancy Your Answer It is important to assess the client’s past history. Symptoms of anxiety may begin in adolescence or early adulthood. Relevant Relevant Client: There have been times when I would get stressed out by things happening in my life, but this time I feel overwhelmed and out of control and I don’t know why. I should feel happy. 3. Tell me about the difficulties you are having sleeping. Rationale Relevancy Your Answer Explore the client’s sleep disruptions. Clients suffering from an anxiety disorder frequently experience sleep disturbances. Relevant Relevant Client: I feel I have a lot on my mind, so I have difficulty falling asleep. I wake up several times during the night and can’t seem to get back to sleep. I just lay there and think. My mind seems to be working overtime. 4. Are you experiencing periods of sadness and feeling down? Rationale Relevancy Your Answer Symptoms of depression are common with an anxiety disorder. Relevant Relevant Client: I don’t know what to do. I should feel happy. We got married last year and things had been going great, now I just feel stressed and like my life is out of control. I don’t know why. 5. What is happening in your life to cause these feelings? Rationale Relevancy Your Answer Symptoms of anxiety cannot be attributed to any specific events. Irrelevant Relevant Client: I should be happy; that’s what I don’t understand. I used to love my job and I love Jeff. I was happy when we got married. Now all I can think about is that something awful will happen because I have lost control of my life. 6. Have you had any thoughts of harming yourself? Rationale Relevancy Your Answer The client has never indicated that she is feeling suicidal. Irrelevant Irrelevant Client: No, I just want to feel like I have my life back. 7. What happens to you when you begin to feel like your life is out of control? Rationale Relevancy Your Answer Identifying symptoms of anxiety is important in order to address those symptoms. Relevant Irrelevant Client: I feel like something bad is going to happen. Sometimes I feel like my heart is going to beat out of my chest and I have difficulty breathing. When that happens, I can’t concentrate on what I am doing. 1. Assess Anne’s current level of anxiety and distress. Rationale Relevanc y Your Answer It is important to maintain the client’s comfort level during the interview. When the client is in distress or is overly apprehensive or anxious, the examiner will want to make the exam as short as feasible while still gathering necessary data. This is especially important when working with a client who has concerns that are related to anxiety. Relevant Relevan t Assessment Data/Patient Results: Anne is currently experiencing mild anxiety but is in no acute distress. However, Anne identifies that at times she feels so stressed and anxious that she feels as if she has lost control of her life. 2. Assess Anne’s respirations.