Exhibits The nurse calms the client and deescalates the situation. The nurse notes that a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder has been added to the care plan. Choose the most likely options for the information missing from the statement by selecting from the lists of options provided. The nurse recognizes that elevated dropdown can cause increased alertness and dropdown.

Rationale for Correct Choices: Cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine: These are key stress hormones activated during the fight-or-flight response. In PTSD, their persistent elevation is associated with symptoms like anxiety, agitation, and increased alertness, especially during perceived threats. Hypervigilance: Hypervigilance refers to an enhanced state of sensory sensitivity and constant scanning of the environment for threats. It is a hallmark of PTSD, evident in the client's easily startled behavior and environmental scanning. Rationale for Incorrect Choices: Acetylcholine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine: Acetylcholine plays a greater role in attention and memory, not the stress response. Cortisol, not acetylcholine, is a more relevant hormone in PTSD-related hyperarousal and stress regulation. Dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine: While dopamine influences motivation and pleasure, cortisol is more directly tied to the physiological stress response seen in PTSD. Omitting cortisol weakens the connection to stress-induced hyperalertness. Bradyphrenia: Bradyphrenia refers to slowed thinking, which is not typical in hyperaroused PTSD states. The client shows heightened awareness, not cognitive slowing. Hypoactivity: Hypoactivity implies reduced movement or response, which does not align with the client’s constant environmental scanning and heightened alertness. Hyperactivity, not hypoactivity, is more consistent with hypervigilance.