A nurse is assessing a patient with anxiety disorder. The nurse asks the patient, “How are you feeling right now?” The patient responds, “I feel like something bad is going to happen. My heart is racing, and I can’t catch my breath.” The nurse documents the patient’s statement as:
A.
“I feel like something bad is going to happen.”.
B.
“My heart is racing, and I can’t catch my breath.”.
C.
“I feel anxious and restless.”.
D.
“I have a feeling of impending doom.”.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is:
D. “I have a feeling of impending doom.”
Explanation:
In this scenario, the patient’s statement reflects classic symptoms of anxiety disorder, including a sense of impending doom, rapid heartbeat, and difficulty breathing. When documenting patient statements, especially in the context of mental health assessments, it’s crucial to capture the specific and subjective experiences reported by the patient. This ensures that the documentation is accurate and reflective of the patient’s actual symptoms, which is essential for proper diagnosis and treatment planning.
Option A: “I feel like something bad is going to happen.”
While this option captures the patient’s sense of impending danger, it does not fully encompass the physiological symptoms mentioned, such as the racing heart and difficulty breathing. It provides a partial view of the patient’s experience but lacks the depth required for a comprehensive assessment.
Option B: “My heart is racing, and I can’t catch my breath.”
This option focuses on the physiological symptoms experienced by the patient but misses the emotional and cognitive aspects of anxiety, such as the sense of impending doom. Although it provides valuable information about the physical symptoms, it does not address the full range of the patient’s experience.
Option C: “I feel anxious and restless.”
This statement generalizes the patient’s experience into broader terms. While it identifies feelings of anxiety and restlessness, it does not capture the specific and intense nature of the patient’s reported feelings, such as the sense of impending doom and the associated physical symptoms.
Option D: “I have a feeling of impending doom.”
This option is the most comprehensive because it captures both the emotional and cognitive aspects of the patient’s anxiety. The term “impending doom” reflects the patient’s reported fear and apprehension that something terrible is about to happen, which is a key feature of anxiety disorders. It also aligns with the patient’s description of their experience, including the physiological symptoms of a racing heart and difficulty breathing. Proper documentation should encompass both the subjective emotional experience and the objective symptoms to provide a complete picture of the patient’s condition.
In summary, Option D is the most accurate and detailed representation of the patient’s experience, integrating both the emotional feeling of dread and the physical symptoms described.