During a panic attack on a psychiatric unit, which action is appropriate for the nurse?

• A. Calm the client and provide reassurance
• B. Ask the client to describe the thoughts they are having
• C. Restrain the patient
• D. Administer a sedative without consent

Answer: (A)

During a panic attack, the body’s fight-or-flight response is in overdrive, and the priority is to help the client regain a sense of safety and control. The most effective nursing action is to respond with calm, reassuring presence, using a soft voice, simple statements, and supportive touch if appropriate. Stay with the client, reduce environmental stimuli, and guide them through grounding or breathing techniques to slow the rapid breathing and reduce autonomic arousal. This approach directly helps lower fear and helps the client regain reality-based thinking.

Asking the client to describe thoughts during a panic attack can be overwhelming and may heighten distress. Restraints or sedating the client without consent are inappropriate and violate safety and autonomy; such measures are not first-line and require clear justification and proper procedures.