Question

During a panic attack, a client runs to the nurse and reports breathing difficulty, chest pain, and palpitations. The client is pale, with his mouth wide open and eyebrows raised. What should the nurse do first?

1. Assist the client to breathe deeply into a paper bag.
2. Orient the client to person, place, and time.
3. Set limits for acting out delusional behaviors.
4. Administer an I.M. anxiolytic agent.

Answer 1

In response to a panic attack with symptoms such as difficulty breathing and chest pain, the nurse should first assess vital signs and then help the client with deep breathing techniques.

Step-by-step explanation:

During a panic attack, the nurse should first assess the client's physical state to rule out any immediate life-threatening conditions, such as a heart attack or asthma attack, which can present with similar symptoms. While breathing into a paper bag can be a remedy for hyperventilation, assisting the client to breathe deeply and slowly without the bag is generally preferred to ensure that they are not actually suffering from a condition that requires more immediate medical attention. Therefore, the nurse should first assess the client's vitals, including their pulse and oxygen saturation, and if the client is not in immediate danger, help them to use deep breathing techniques to manage their symptoms.