GAD
This is the hallmark symptom of Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
What is excessive and persistent worry?
A patient is hyperventilating during a panic attack. The nurse should coach the patient to do this.
What is slow and control their breathing?
During severe panic, this is the nurse's priority intervention.
What is remain with the patient and maintain safety?
SSRIs increase the availability of this neurotransmitter in the synaptic cleft.
What is serotonin?
The nurse avoids saying, “Don't worry, everything will be okay,” because this is an example of this nontherapeutic technique.
What is false reassurance?
A common physical symptom of GAD involving tightness or discomfort in the muscles.
What is muscle tension?
A patient states, “I can't do this anymore.” This is the nurse's priority assessment.
What is assess for suicidal thoughts or self-harm?
The nurse should avoid forcing rapid exposure because it may increase anxiety and do this to the therapeutic relationship.
What is decrease trust?
Alcohol should be avoided with benzodiazepines because of the risk for this.
What is CNS or respiratory depression?
The nurse gives the patient full attention and focuses on understanding the patient's message.
What is active listening?
Muscle tension, headaches, and fatigue are examples of these types of GAD symptoms.
What are physical or physiological symptoms?
Before assuming tachycardia and shortness of breath are caused by anxiety, the nurse should first do this.
should first do this.What is assess for a possible medical cause?
A patient with a fear of elevators first looks at a picture of an elevator, then stands near one, and eventually rides one. This demonstrates this treatment.
What is gradual exposure therapy?
These two medication classes are commonly considered first-line pharmacological treatments for GAD.
What are SSRIs and SNRIs?
“You shouldn't feel that way” is this type of communication.
What is nontherapeutic communication?
This therapy helps patients identify and change distorted thought patterns contributing to anxiety.
What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
The nurse should move a patient experiencing severe anxiety to this type of environment.
What is a quiet, low-stimulation environment?
A patient with a fear of dogs crosses the street every time a dog approaches. This behavior is an example of this.
What is avoidance?
Agitation, confusion, diaphoresis, fever, and muscle rigidity may indicate this potentially life-threatening SSRI complication.
What is serotonin syndrome?
“What happened next?” This is an example of this type of question.
What is an open-ended question?
A patient with GAD is pacing and unable to focus. The nurse says, “Sit here with me. Take a slow breath.” This nursing approach uses these types of directions.
What are short, simple, clear directions?
Complex medication teaching should be delayed until the patient's anxiety reaches this point.
What is a manageable or reduced level?
This treatment gradually exposes a patient to a feared stimulus while teaching relaxation techniques.
What is systematic desensitization?
SSRIs carry a black box warning related to an increased risk for this, particularly in children, adolescents, and young adults.
What are suicidal thoughts and behaviors?
A patient says, “I'm fine,” while crying and avoiding eye contact. The nurse recognizes this lack of agreement between verbal and nonverbal communication.
What is incongruence?