Which intervention should a nurse prioritize for a client experiencing acute symptoms of a panic attack?

Choice A reason: During an acute panic attack, the patient often hyperventilates, which leads to respiratory alkalosis and exacerbates symptoms like dizziness and chest pain. Encouraging slow, deep diaphragmatic breathing helps stabilize the patient's physiological state by increasing carbon dioxide levels and activating the parasympathetic nervous system to counteract the "fight or flight" response. Choice B reason: Providing detailed education is inappropriate during the peak of an acute panic attack because the patient's cognitive processing is severely impaired by intense physiological arousal. Complex information will not be retained and may increase the patient's sense of overwhelm; education should be reserved for the post-crisis stabilization phase. Choice C reason: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are first-line medications for the long-term management and prevention of panic disorder, but they have a delayed onset of action. They are ineffective for the immediate termination of acute symptoms, which requires rapid-acting interventions such as benzodiazepines or behavioral grounding techniques. Choice D reason: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based, structured psychological treatment used to address the root causes and patterns of anxiety over multiple sessions. It is not an acute intervention. A patient in the midst of a panic attack is unable to engage in the complex cognitive restructuring required for CBT.