Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, 9th Edition

Title: Anxiety

Scenario: A 50-year-old has been admitted to the mental health unit of the local hospital for

stabilization treatment for a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The client lives

alone and has minimized social contracts over the last 6 months. The client shares that I’m really

anxious on the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Item Type: Matrix

Use an X to indicate which intervention is associated with each of the listed client’s short-term

goals. All interventions should be used and can be used only once.

Interventions Short-term Goal 1 Short-term Goal 2 Short-term Goal 3

Patient will state Patient will be Patient will

that immediate able to identify identify strengths

distress is relieved anxiety triggers by and coping skills

by end of session end of third by end of fifth

session session

Stay with patient 1

Ask questions that 2

dispute illogical

thinking

Encourage client-

directed discussion
related to events 2

preceding feelings of

extreme anxiety

Have client identify 3

4 of their positive

personality trails

Use short simple

sentences 1

Reframe anxiety

producing situations 3

in ways that are

positive

Link client’s 2

behavior to feelings

Help client identify 3

previously effective

survival strategies

Assure client that 1

you are available to

assist them in ways

they identify