Final answer:
When a client complains of shooting chest pain, a nurse would expect guarding of the chest area as a common behavioral response, which is a protective reaction to minimize pain and movement.
Step-by-step explanation:
When assessing a client in the emergency department who complains of shooting chest pain, a nurse would typically expect to find several behavioral responses. The most likely reaction among the options provided is C. Guarding of the chest area. Guarding behavior is an instinctual response to protect an area of the body that is in pain. Chest pain, known as angina, can cause patients to reflexively protect the area to reduce movement and further pain.
Other possible responses to chest pain, associated with conditions like angina, may include increased heart rate due to stress or pain, an increased respiratory rate as the body tries to deliver more oxygen to the tissues, and potential changes in blood pressure. In this specific scenario, options such as high blood pressure or decreased heart rate are less typical behavioral responses directly related to pain compared to guarding.