How should a nurse respond to a patient exhibiting severe anxiety?

Responding to a patient exhibiting severe anxiety requires a supportive and reassuring approach. Providing support and reassurance is key to helping the patient feel understood and safe in a distressing moment. This can help them regain a sense of control and calmness, which is crucial for managing anxiety. By actively listening, validating their feelings, and offering calming techniques or resources, a nurse can effectively assist the patient in coping with their anxiety.

In contrast, offering no feedback may lead the patient to feel abandoned or misunderstood, further exacerbating their anxiety. Similarly, distractions and noise could overwhelm the patient rather than alleviate their condition, making it harder for them to focus on calming themselves. Encouraging isolation is counterproductive, as it can increase feelings of loneliness and anxiety rather than providing the support needed for emotional recovery. Therefore, providing support and reassurance is the most appropriate response to help mitigate severe anxiety in a patient.