To reduce anxiety during urinary catheter insertion, the nurse should instruct the client to:

• A. Breathe Deeply
• B. Hold Their Breath
• C. Close Their Eyes and Relax Without Breathing
• D. Take a Short Nap Beforehand

Answer: (A)

Breathing deeply activates a relaxation response that helps calm the body during uncomfortable procedures. Slow, purposeful breaths reduce sympathetic nervous system activation, lower muscle tension, and can lessen the perception of pain, making catheter insertion more tolerable. Instructing the patient to inhale slowly through the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth provides a simple, controllable way to stay calm and still during the procedure. This is more effective than holding the breath, which can raise chest pressure and cause dizziness; closing the eyes and simply relaxing without breathing regulation, which doesn’t give a practical method to control anxiety; or attempting to nap beforehand, which isn’t feasible at the moment of insertion.