Final answer:
The most important thing for the nurse to do to help reduce the patient's anxiety is to validate the anxious feelings option (b). While teaching relaxation techniques and explaining procedures can be helpful, validation directly addresses the patient's anxiety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most important thing for the nurse to do to help reduce the patient's anxiety is to validate the anxious feelings option (b). This involves acknowledging and empathizing with the patient's emotions, letting them know that their feelings are valid and understandable. By doing so, the nurse creates a supportive and understanding environment, which can help alleviate the patient's anxiety.
While teaching relaxation techniques and explaining procedures to the patient can be helpful interventions, the validation of the patient's feelings is crucial in the initial stages of anxiety reduction. Minimizing environmental stimuli can also contribute to a calmer atmosphere, but the act of validation is more directly focused on addressing the patient's anxiety.