Question

The nurse & the UAP take a group of mental health patients to a baseball game. During the game, a patient begins to complain of SOB & dizziness. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?

a. Administer a prescribed anti-anxiety medication
b. Call for emergency medical assistance
c. Encourage deep breathing exercises
d. Ignore the symptoms, as they may be stress-related

Answer 1

The correct first intervention when a patient complains of shortness of breath and dizziness is to call for emergency medical assistance. It ensures immediate evaluation and potential treatment, which can be crucial in a potentially severe medical situation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks about the appropriate first intervention for a mental health patient experiencing shortness of breath (SOB) and dizziness at a baseball game. The first step should always be to assess the situation and prioritize patient safety. Therefore, the most appropriate intervention would be to call for emergency medical assistance (option b). This ensures the patient receives prompt evaluation and treatment for what could be a life-threatening condition. It is not recommended to ignore the symptoms, administer medication without proper assessment, or solely encourage deep breathing exercises without further evaluation.

Both administering anti-anxiety medication and encouraging deep breathing exercises may be relevant interventions after a medical evaluation, especially if the cause of SOB and dizziness is determined to be anxiety-related. However, these steps should occur after or concurrent with getting emergency help, not as the first and only response. It's important to note that ignoring the symptoms is not a safe intervention and could potentially harm the patient.