A patient admitted for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction experiences acute anxiety and asks how to feel better about the surgery. What is the nurse's best response?

A patient admitted for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction experiences acute anxiety and asks how to feel better about the surgery. What is the nurse's best response?

• A. Let me stay with you. Focus on my voice and breathe deeply.
• B. We only use meds.
• C. I can't help.
• D. You should not worry.

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is therapeutic presence and a simple, active coping strategy to reduce acute anxiety. When a patient is overwhelmed after surgery, having the nurse stay with them, speak in a calm, reassuring voice, and guide a breathing exercise gives a immediate sense of safety and control. The nurse’s presence communicates support and empathy, while focused breathing helps shift from rapid, shallow breathing to slower, diaphragmatic breathing, which activates the relaxation response and lowers physiological arousal. This combination often reduces fear and helps the patient feel heard and cared for in the moment. Other approaches miss the mark for different reasons. Relying only on medications ignores the immediate, nonpharmacological coping that can calm the patient right away. A response like “I can’t help” conveys neglect and leaves anxiety unaddressed. Telling someone not to worry dismisses their feelings and provides no tools to cope. Together with the patient’s emotional and physical needs after a mastectomy, staying with them and guiding breathing is the most effective immediate intervention.

The key idea here is therapeutic presence and a simple, active coping strategy to reduce acute anxiety. When a patient is overwhelmed after surgery, having the nurse stay with them, speak in a calm, reassuring voice, and guide a breathing exercise gives a immediate sense of safety and control. The nurse’s presence communicates support and empathy, while focused breathing helps shift from rapid, shallow breathing to slower, diaphragmatic breathing, which activates the relaxation response and lowers physiological arousal. This combination often reduces fear and helps the patient feel heard and cared for in the moment.

Other approaches miss the mark for different reasons. Relying only on medications ignores the immediate, nonpharmacological coping that can calm the patient right away. A response like “I can’t help” conveys neglect and leaves anxiety unaddressed. Telling someone not to worry dismisses their feelings and provides no tools to cope. Together with the patient’s emotional and physical needs after a mastectomy, staying with them and guiding breathing is the most effective immediate intervention.