A 36-year-old woman complains that she has had crushing chest pain for the past 2 days. She seems nervous as she speaks to you. An appropriate response is to:
A) continue to collect information regarding the chief complaint in an unhurried manner.
B) finish the interview as rapidly as possible.
C) ask the patient to take a deep breath and calm down.
D) ask the patient if she wants to wait until another day to talk to you.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

With an anxious, vulnerable patient, it is best to not hurry; a calm demeanor will communicate caring to the patient. If you as a healthcare provider are hurried, the patient will be more anxious. The best way to assist an anxious patient is to not hurry and remain calm, because this will communicate caring to the patient. Asking the patient if she wants to wait until another day to talk to you delays the needed health care.

A 36-Year-Old Woman Complains That She Has Had Crushing Chest