Nursing Care Plan for Anxiety
Also searched as: anxiety disorder
🎓 Educational example. Adapt to your patient and have your instructor review it. Not medical advice.
A vague, uneasy feeling of dread from a perceived threat, affecting comfort and coping. Nursing care reduces anxiety and builds coping.
Build your own Anxiety care plan in minutes → the free Care Plan Builder walks you from assessment to evaluation and exports a clean PDF.
Assessment
- Subjective: worry, apprehension, difficulty concentrating
- Objective: restlessness, elevated HR/BP, trembling
Nursing diagnoses
As evidenced by: reported worry, physiologic arousal, restlessness
Goals / expected outcomes
- The patient will report reduced anxiety and demonstrate one coping strategy by end of shift.
Nursing interventions & rationale
| Intervention | Rationale |
|---|---|
| Stay calm; provide honest, clear information about what to expect. | Uncertainty fuels anxiety; information reduces it. |
| Teach relaxation and slow breathing techniques. | Activates the parasympathetic response. |
| Encourage the patient to name specific fears and use support. | Targeted reassurance is more effective. |
| Administer anxiolytics if ordered and monitor effect. | Supports comfort when non-drug measures are insufficient. |
Evaluation
- Reports reduced anxiety
- Uses a coping technique
- Calmer vital signs
Stop rewriting care plans by hand
CarePlanKit builds a complete, formatted care plan for any condition — assessment, diagnosis, SMART goals, interventions with rationale — and exports to PDF or Word in your school's format. Free to start.
Build a care plan free See Student plan — $6.99/monthAnxiety care plan: FAQ
What is the nursing diagnosis for Anxiety?
Common nursing diagnoses include: Anxiety related to a health crisis and uncertainty. Choose the one your patient's assessment data supports.
What are nursing interventions for Anxiety?
Key interventions: Stay calm; provide honest, clear information about what to expect.; Teach relaxation and slow breathing techniques.; Encourage the patient to name specific fears and use support. — each paired with a rationale.
Can I use this care plan for my assignment?
Use it as a study example and starting draft. Always adapt it to your specific patient and have it reviewed by your instructor. This is an educational tool, not medical advice.
Last reviewed 2026-07. Educational content based on standard nursing practice; not medical advice and not affiliated with NANDA-I/NIC/NOC. Always follow your institution's protocols and your instructor's guidance.