Which question to help reduce anxiety would the nurse ask a client who is pacing the floor and appears extremely anxious?
A. “Are you feeling upset right now?”
B. “Shall we walk together for a while?”
C. “Are you the type to work out?”
D. “Shall we sit and talk about your feelings?”
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is: B. “Shall we walk together for a while?”
Explanation:
Anxiety often leads to restlessness, and pacing is a physical manifestation of this feeling. The key to reducing anxiety in such a situation is to provide a therapeutic intervention that promotes comfort without escalating the client’s distress. The act of walking can offer both physical and emotional relief for someone who is anxious.
By suggesting walking together, the nurse acknowledges the client’s current need to move and provides a calm, supportive alternative. Walking can have a soothing effect as it engages the body in a rhythmic, repetitive activity, which can help ground the person and reduce their anxiety. Furthermore, it offers an opportunity for the nurse to build rapport and be present without forcing a conversation that the client may not be ready for.
Here’s why the other options are less effective:
- A. “Are you feeling upset right now?”: While this question acknowledges the client’s emotional state, it doesn’t offer an immediate strategy for anxiety relief. For someone in an acute state of anxiety, asking direct questions about their feelings may heighten their emotional distress.
- C. “Are you the type to work out?”: This question is unrelated to the current situation and lacks empathy. It may come across as dismissive of the client’s immediate needs.
- D. “Shall we sit and talk about your feelings?”: Asking the client to sit may contradict their current need to move and pace. Talking about feelings requires emotional energy that a highly anxious individual might not be able to muster at that moment.
By offering a simple, supportive activity like walking, the nurse can help the client release some nervous energy while providing emotional support.