Prepare for the NCLEX with this question! Learn about nursing interventions for a college student experiencing anxiety. Understand the priority interventions for managing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) effectively.
The nurse is caring for a college student who reports feeling anxious and is struggling to adjust to life away from home. The nurse chooses the priority hypothesis anxiety, and creates the outcome statement: The patient will report feeling less anxious within one week of treatment. Which intervention(s) should the nurse implement to help the patient meet the outcome?
Select all that apply.
A. Encourage the patient to stay home until anxiety resolves
B. Initiate guided imagery practices
C. Encourage the patient to limit caffeine intake
D. Speak to the patient in a calm, reassuring mannerE. Schedule set times for the patient to call home
Scroll down for the correct answers!
The correct answers to today’s NCLEX-RN® Question are…
B. Initiate guided imagery practices
Rationale:Guided imagery practice is a relaxation technique that involves focusing on a positive image or relaxing scene. This practice can help the patient relax and manage anxiety.
C. Encourage the patient to limit caffeine intake
Rationale:Caffeine causes the heart rate to increase, which can then increase anxiety levels. Therefore, patients with anxiety should avoid caffeine when possible.
D. Speak to the patient in a calm, reassuring manner
Rationale:Interacting with the patient in a calm, reassuring manner can help the patient relax and reduce their anxiety levels.
E. Schedule set times for the patient to call home
Rationale: Scheduling time for the patient to call home can help the patient adjust to college life while staying connected to their family and friends.
Major Takeaway
The nurse should use clinical judgment to take action related to generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) by implementing the solutions that address the highest priorities. For the patient with GAD, nursing interventions include initiating guided imagery practices, educating the patient to decrease caffeine intake, interacting with them in a calm, reassuring manner, and advising the patient to schedule times to call home. Encouraging the patient to stay home until anxiety resolves does not teach them how to manage anxiety levels, therefore would not help them meet the expected outcome.
Incorrect answer explanations
A. Encourage the patient to stay home until anxiety resolves
Rationale:Encouraging the patient to stay home until anxiety levels resolve does not help the patient to learn to manage their anxiety, instead it can promote social isolation.
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