A patient admitted to the cardiac unit is going to the cardiac catheterization lab for a procedure.The patient tells the nurse,"I am so anxious about this.I am afraid the procedure might trigger a heart attack." What is the first action by the nurse?

A) Contact the physician for an anti-anxiety medication prior to the procedure.
B) Assure the patient that this is a very common procedure for all cardiac patients.
C) Instruct the patient prior to the procedure about what he can expect of the procedure.
D) Offer the patient some stress-reducing techniques to use before the procedure.

Because anxiety is a common response to illness,medical tests,and treatments,the nurse will use anxiety-relief interventions.In this patient scenario,instructing the patient about what to expect of the procedure will lessen anxiety and is the first and best action.Contacting the physician for an anti-anxiety medication is appropriate and many patients will receive a mild anti-anxiety medication prior to the procedure.Additionally,offering the patient some stress-reducing techniques and strategies can also be appropriate,for example,instructing him to take some deep breaths.However the first action by the nurse is to instruct the patient about the procedure.