A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder who reports chest pain. Laboratory results and ECG are within normal limits, and the client has no cardiac history. Which of the following nursing actions is most appropriate at this time?

Choice A reason: The most therapeutic approach is to acknowledge the client’s distress and validate their concerns while gently redirecting focus toward coping strategies. This balances empathy with promoting adaptive behaviors. It avoids dismissing the client’s experience and supports long-term management of somatic symptom disorder. Choice B reason: Encouraging the client to minimize attention to symptoms may appear dismissive and can increase anxiety or mistrust. Clients with somatic symptom disorder often feel invalidated, so this approach is not therapeutic. Choice C reason: Immediate psychiatric evaluation is not warranted unless there is evidence of acute psychiatric crisis, such as suicidal ideation. In this case, the client’s symptoms are consistent with somatic symptom disorder and can be managed with therapeutic communication and coping strategies. Choice D reason: Reassuring the client that nothing is physically wrong invalidates their experience and may worsen anxiety. It is not therapeutic and does not promote trust or coping.