An older adult patient is tearful, shaky, and withdrawn. The patient shares with the nurse, "I am worried to death" about losing an aging spouse and being "all alone." For which reasons does the nurse diagnose this reaction as anxiety rather than fear? Select all that apply.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A) Anxiety often involves worry about future or anticipated events, unlike fear, which is a response to an immediate threat.B) Anxiety is characterized by anticipation of a potential danger or negative outcome, rather than a response to a present, concrete danger.D) The patient's worry about being alone and losing a spouse indicates a psychological threat, which is more aligned with anxiety than fear, which typically involves a physical threat.

An Older Adult Patient Is Tearful, Shaky, and Withdrawn