Question

Which nursing intervention would be most helpful for a client experiencing a panic attack?

1. Encouraging the client to identify what precipitated the attack
2. Promoting the client's interaction with others to reduce anxiety through diversion
3. Staying with the client and remaining calm, confident, and reassuring
4. Reducing intolerable stimuli by encouraging the client to stay in the room alone until the anxiety abates

Answer 1

Staying with the client and providing a calm, reassuring presence is the most helpful nursing intervention during a panic attack. It helps in reducing the intensity of symptoms and ensures the client feels supported rather than overwhelmed or abandoned.

Step-by-step explanation:

For a client experiencing a panic attack, the most helpful nursing intervention would be to stay with the client and provide a calm, confident, and reassuring presence. When clients are in the midst of a panic attack, they often feel overwhelmed and terrified, and the presence of a calm and supportive person can help to ground them and reduce the intensity of their symptoms. Avoiding additional stimulation is key, so encouraging the client to identify what precipitated the attack or promoting interaction with others may actually increase their anxiety. Reducing intolerable stimuli by encouraging solitude might sometimes be helpful, but it should be balanced with the need for support, ensuring the client does not feel abandoned.