Anxiety in Primary Care: A Primer for APRNs
Primary care APRNs will come across patients exhibiting anxiety-related symptoms, and APRNs must maintain their competency in the diagnosis and evidence-based treatment of anxiety disorders. Delve into this course today while earning CNE credits!
Course Details
Overview
Anxiety disorders, some of the most common mental health conditions seen in primary care, frequently manifest with physical symptoms (including chronic headaches, muscle tension and pain, GI upset, heart palpitations, chest pain and tightness, fatigue, trembling or shaking, sweating/sweaty palms, shortness of breath, dizziness, chills or heat sensation, and sleep disturbances). Anxiety may be the predominant disorder, or it may be a symptom of other disorders. It is crucial that APRNs working in primary care settings be prepared to discuss anxiety with their adult patients and offer appropriate treatments.
Key Learning Outcomes
- Describe anxiety as it may present in patients in primary care settings.
- Discuss screening and assessment tools APRNs use to evaluate anxiety symptoms in the primary care setting.
- Identify safe and effective treatment for managing anxiety in the primary care setting.
Presented by:
Allison Gregory, FNP-BC, RN, CNE and Lyons Hardy, PMHNP-BC, RN, PMHCNS-BC
The authors are clinical assistant professors at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Nursing in Richmond.
