advanced health assessment test bank Related

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During the health assessment, the nurse notes that a patient is anxious and worried about upcoming surgery. What is the nurse's first priority in this situation?

  • A. Assess the patient's emotional state and provide reassurance.
  • B. Discuss the risks and benefits of the surgery in detail.
  • C. Encourage the patient to relax and not focus on the surgery.
  • D. Call the surgeon to inform them of the patient's anxiety.
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Assess the patient's emotional state and provide reassurance. The first priority is to address the patient's anxiety and worry, as this can impact their overall well-being and ability to cope with the upcoming surgery. By assessing the emotional state, the nurse can understand the patient's concerns and provide appropriate support and reassurance. Discussing the risks and benefits (choice B) may be important but not the immediate priority. Encouraging relaxation (choice C) may not address the underlying anxiety. Calling the surgeon (choice D) is not necessary at this point as the nurse should first focus on the patient's emotional needs.