Question

Your patient was admitted for a hypertensive crisis and has a history of HTN, Parkinson's disease, depression, and alcohol use. On his second hospitalized day, you notice he is more anxious and restless than his baseline. What would be your FIRST nursing intervention?

1) Administer an anti-anxiety medication
2) Assess the patient's vital signs
3) Provide a quiet and calm environment
4) Encourage the patient to engage in relaxation techniques

Answer 1

The first nursing intervention for a patient exhibiting increased anxiety and restlessness is to assess the patient's vital signs to rule out any immediate physical threats before considering further interventions.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient with a history of hypertension (HTN), Parkinson's disease, depression, and alcohol use is experiencing increased anxiety and restlessness during hospitalization, the first nursing intervention should be to assess the patient's vital signs. This is crucial because the patient's symptoms could be indicative of various conditions, including a hypertensive crisis, withdrawal from alcohol, or an adverse reaction to medication. Assessing vital signs is a primary step in identifying any acute changes that might require immediate intervention. Once the vital signs are checked and it is ensured that there is no immediate physical threat, the nurse can consider additional interventions such as providing a calm environment, administering anti-anxiety medication (if prescribed and appropriate), or utilizing relaxation techniques to help alleviate the patient's anxiety.