A patient with severe anxiety has been pacing the hall and suddenly begins to run,shouting "I'm going to explode!" over and over.The nurse who has been walking with him should:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Safety needs of the patient and other patients are a priority.The patient is less likely to hurt himself or others when several staff take responsibility for providing limits and instilling a sense of safety so that the patient is less frightened.The explanation given the patient should be simple and neutral.Simply being told that others can provide the control he is losing may be sufficient to help the patient regain control.Running and calling after the patient is stimulating and will increase his anxiety.More than one staff member will be needed to provide physical limits safely if they become necessary,and manually controlling the patient could be misperceived as an assault,further frightening him and intensifying his anxiety.Attempting to explore or clarify what is happening would be nontherapeutic: a patient in panic processes information poorly and likely would be further frustrated if asked to do so.

A Patient with Severe Anxiety Has Been Pacing the Hall