Final answer:
After establishing a regular breathing pattern during a progressive relaxation activity, the RN should instruct the patient to focus on positive thoughts, advise maintaining regular breathing, and guide the patient to relax any tense muscles. Increasing the pace of breathing should be avoided.
Step-by-step explanation:
During a progressive relaxation activity, after establishing a regular breathing pattern, the RN should provide instructions that guide the individual to maintain focus on their body and mind. The RN could suggest:
- Instruct the patient to focus on positive thoughts, which aligns with the practice of repeating a mantra such as “alert mind, calm body,” and passively allowing the mind to focus on pleasant thoughts during the relaxation process.
- Advise the patient to continue regular breathing, ensuring that the established breathing pattern remains steady and does not become erratic, which is key to maintaining a state of relaxation.
- Guide the patient to locate any area with muscle tension and encourage the individual to consciously relax those specific muscles, enhancing the effectiveness of the progressive relaxation technique.
It is important not to recommend increasing the pace of breathing as it could disrupt the relaxation process. Understanding the conscious control of breathing is vital, as it allows for activities such as swimming, singing, or practicing yoga.