NCLEX Question of the Day
Psychosocial Integrity QID 249
During an initial client interview, a nurse notices the client has shallow, labored breathing and is unable to sit still. The client states they feel like they're having a 'heart attack.' After ruling out medical emergencies, which condition does the nurse suspect?
Explanation
Panic attacks can mimic symptoms of a heart attack, such as chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and feelings of terror or impending doom. After medical causes are ruled out, the symptoms of restlessness, labored breathing, and the client's belief of experiencing a heart attack point to a psychological cause, such as a panic attack.
Asthma would involve wheezing and a focus on respiratory difficulty, a hypoglycemic event would typically present with symptoms such as shaking, sweating, and possibly confusion, and a myocardial infarction would be accompanied by ECG changes and cardiac biomarkers, which are not mentioned in the scenario.
GoodNurse AI
Sign up to access GoodNurse AI, a one-of-a-kind AI tutor who assists you in understanding practice questions better. You can either type in your own question or choose from a list of pre-written questions. GoodNurse AI offers clear explanations and guidance to enhance your learning.