Question

A patient comes to the emergency room complaining of a very rapid heart rate and sweating. She states, "I was getting ready to do a presentation for my company, and all of a sudden I started to feel this way. I really don't like to speak in public, and I get really nervous before I do."The patient's heart rate and respiratory rate are elevated. The patient's hands are cool and clammy. Further evaluation reveals that the patient is experiencing an anxiety attack. a. When evaluating the patient's signs and symptoms, which branch of the autonomic nervous system would the nurse suspect as predominating at this point? Correlate the patient's symptoms/manifestations with the system's action b. What additional signs and symptoms would the nurse most likely assess? C. How would the nurse explain to the patient what is happening?

Answer 1

a) The patient has came to the emergency department with very rapid heart rate , sweating , and her heart rate and respiratory rate is also increased and her hands are cool and clammy it shows that the patient is in anxiety mood and the branch of the autonomic nervous system is sympathetic nervous system and this elevates the heart rate and respiratory rate with deep and increased breathing, and the hands are cool and clammy because the increased heart rate and the blood is pumped to the areas where it is needed more and taken away from the other areas in this patient the blood from the hands are less so they are cool and clammy, this is the process the body is been prepared for the fight and flight mode . b) the additional signs and symptoms the nurse most likely assess is intensity of anxiety and vital signs and urination frequency and dry mouth and headaches and dizziness etc. c) The nurse explains the patient by good communication and supportive and making familarize the patient with the surrounding and statrt interacting in a peaceful manner and conveying the patient what they need to known in a simple words telling that the patient had anxiety attack and it is a normal response of the body, and there is no need to panic and you can overcome the situation by encouraaging yourself to face the situation slowly etc.