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NCLEX · Mental Health Concepts

A client is experiencing a panic attack with rapid breathing and feelings of terror. What is the priority nursing action?

Reviewed by Jordan Morley, Editorial Lead at 247SimpleTests. Written by the 247SimpleTests Editorial Team from the official source material cited on every question.

Correct answer

Stay with the client, remain calm, and use a calm, reassuring voice while guiding slow breathing

  1. A Provide detailed health teaching immediately
  2. B Stay with the client, remain calm, and use a calm, reassuring voice while guiding slow breathing
  3. C Tell the client to 'snap out of it'
  4. D Leave the client alone to calm down

Why this is the answer

During a PANIC ATTACK, the priority is to STAY WITH the client (do not leave them alone), remain CALM yourself, use a CALM, reassuring voice, and guide SLOW breathing; provide a quiet, safe environment; use short, simple directions. NCLEX-PN psychosocial/anxiety. During severe anxiety/panic, the client's ability to process information is GREATLY REDUCED — so detailed teaching is ineffective during the attack (teach later when calm). Never leave a panicking client alone or dismiss their experience ('snap out of it'). Reducing stimuli, staying present, and helping the client regain control are priorities. Knowing how to support a client during acute anxiety/panic is a tested psychosocial concept.
Source: NCLEX-PN Psychosocial — Panic/Anxiety Intervention

Practice more questions

This question is from our NCLEX Practice Tests practice test. Take the full practice test to test your knowledge across all Mental Health Concepts and other topics.

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About this topic: Mental Health Concepts

Mental health concepts cover anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders and personality disorders — the signs, the priority nursing concerns (safety first) and the therapeutic approach. This is one of 18 PN: Psychosocial Integrity questions on mental health concepts, each with a full explanation on a single study page.

New to this exam? Our NCLEX exam guide explains the format, scoring, and how to prepare.

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