CAPA Anxiety & Psychological Support Flashcards

Which non-pharmacologic intervention has STRONG evidence for reducing preoperative anxiety in adults?

Answer: Music therapy and guided relaxation

Music therapy and guided relaxation have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing anxiety without pharmacologic side effects in the perioperative setting.

A patient expresses extreme fear about waking up during surgery. The BEST nursing response is to:

Answer: Validate the concern and explain intraoperative monitoring protocols

Validating the patient's concern and providing factual information about anesthesia monitoring addresses fear with both empathy and education.

Emergence delirium is MOST commonly seen in which patient population in the PACU?

Answer: Young children and older adults

Young children (especially ages 2-6) and elderly adults are most susceptible to emergence delirium due to developmental and neurological factors.

Which assessment tool is MOST appropriate for screening for postoperative delirium in elderly patients?

Answer: Confusion Assessment Method (CAM)

The Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) is the gold standard tool for identifying delirium in non-ICU patients, including postoperative elderly adults.

A patient recovering from ambulatory surgery is tearful and states they feel like something is wrong. The nurse should:

Answer: Thoroughly assess the patient for physiologic and psychological concerns

Tearfulness or a sense of impending doom can be a symptom of both psychological distress and serious physiologic events and requires thorough assessment.

Allowing family members to be present during PACU recovery has been shown to:

Answer: Decrease patient anxiety and improve satisfaction

Research supports that family presence in the PACU reduces patient anxiety, promotes comfort, and improves overall satisfaction scores.