The husband of a patient who is recovering from a heart attack tells the nurse, "My wife doesn't seem like the same person. She is so forgetful and irritable and she has always been well-organized and calm before this." Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Behavioral responses to stress include changes in memory and irritability; these are temporary and will resolve as the stress resolves. The changes are not permanent and do not usually require psychiatric care. Because the changes are temporary, an explanation and appropriate support by the nurse are needed, but a referral to a therapist is not typically necessary.

The Husband of a Patient Who Is Recovering from a Heart