A client who recently returned from duty in Iraq is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The client's family questions what this means. How should the nurse respond to the family?
1. The client might experience sweating, increased heart rate, and blushing when asked to speak to an audience.
2. Whenever in an enclosed, small space, the client might experience an attack of sweating, racing heart, shortness of breath, and trembling.
3. The client might experience nightmares, hallucinations, or flashbacks, accompanied by a racing heart, sweating, shortness of breath, and trembling.
4. It might be common for the client to repetitively wash his hands over and over without apparent reason.
Question 2
A client comes to the emergency department with shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, pressure in the chest, and a feeling of impending doom.
After diagnostic tests and an electrocardiogram, the findings are not consistent with an acute myocardial infarction. What should the nurse do next?
1. Assess the gastrointestinal system.
2. Obtain a history of recent events that might trigger anxiety or that might indicate drug abuse.
3. Ask the health care provider to prescribe pain medication.
4. Prepare discharge forms for the client.