A client comes to the emergency department because he thinks he is having a heart attack. Further ...

Ans: B
After it has been determined that the client does not have other medical problems, the nurse should assess for the characteristic symptoms of panic attack, focusing the questions on what the client was experiencing just before and during the attack. Asking the client if he feels better provides no information for the nurse, and lying down may or may not be effective. Asking the client if he thinks he can drive home is a question that can be asked much later in the interview, after the attack subsides and the client is stable. Asking the client about what caused the attack is inappropriate because numerous stimuli, both external and internal, can provoke an attack. Most clients will not be able to identify a specific cause. The focus of care is on the characteristics of the attack.