Nursing Interventions: How to Reduce Anxiety in Patients

• Anxiety is a normal and common response when patients are unsure about a specialty office visit, procedure, or other medical situation. Having the skills to reduce anxiety is important as nurse.
• Addressing signs of anxiety, such as an increased heart rate or difficulty concentrating, will help patients.
• Common interventions to reduce anxiety include open communication, showing empathy, and providing relaxation techniques.

Have you provided nursing care to a patient with anxiety? Anxiety is a normal and common response that patients can develop when they are unsure about a specialty office visit, procedure, surgery, or lab they are having. Not having control over the situation can make them feel helpless and worsen the anxiety they are feeling. But there are ways you can help reduce anxiety in your role.

It is important for nurses to be aware of their own judgments and not expect a patient to act in a certain way because it is different from how they would react. Every patient is different, and what may be important to some may not be to others, and that is OK.  

I want to discuss some of the nursing interventions I have found helpful when providing nursing care and trying to reduce anxiety in patients. 

What symptoms indicate a patient is experiencing anxiety?

The first step in providing nursing care to a patient with anxiety is being able to recognize they are experiencing anxiety. Increased heart rate, difficulty concentrating, and shaking can all be non-verbal signs someone is experiencing anxiety. They may also tell you they are anxious.  

Common Interventions to Reduce Anxiety

Open Communication:

Once you have verified that the patient is experiencing anxiety, it is important to maintain open communication. Be sure to speak clearly and in a gentle tone.  

Make sure the patient knows your first name. If the patient is about to have a procedure, explain the procedure to the best of your abilities and ask if they have any questions or concerns. It is important to address all the concerns they may have. 

If you do not know the answer, find out from someone who does and get back to the patient. If any handouts are available on the procedure, showing the patient those may also help ease their anxiety.  

When explaining medical procedures, it is helpful to use simple terminology and steer away from medical terms they may not understand. If there are any delays, it’s important to address them and not keep the patient waiting.   

Listen: 

Give your full attention to the patient while they are talking and don’t get distracted by what is going on around you. This will help the patient feel heard and understood. Be aware of your own body language and try to make yourself approachable for the patient to ask questions.  

Maintain eye contact and smile; this will help the patient establish trust and rapport with you as their nurse. If you can, it is best to sit while talking to them, so you are at the patient’s eye level. Standing can give off an authoritative vibe and you do not want the patient to feel intimidated, as this could escalate their anxiety.   

Show Empathy: 

Validate any concerns or feelings the patient might have and assure them what they are feeling is normal and OK. Again, it is important to avoid judgement and try to put yourself in the patient’s shoes. 

Each patient is unique and what is helpful for one patient may not be helpful for another. It is important to look for cues from the patient and observe how they respond to the interventions provided. 

 Provide Relaxation Techniques: 

Show the patient techniques they can utilize to calm their anxiety. Don’t just tell them to relax. If possible, provide soothing music and dim the lights prior to their procedure.  

Teaching deep breathing exercises or providing a magazine or newspaper to distract them until the procedure may help as well. 

Medication: 

In some instances, the physician may be able to prescribe an anti-anxiety medication prior to the procedure, depending on what the procedure is and what other medications may be involved.  

The Bottom Line

Specialty office visits, labs, surgeries, and other procedures can provoke anxiety for many patients. It is important that nurses caring for the patient help create a welcoming and calming atmosphere, free of judgement, so the patient can proceed confidently with the healthcare they need.  

This will help ensure positive health outcomes for the patient and create a positive experience. The lasting impression of a positive experience may decrease their anxiety for their next visit.  

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