If you find yourself the target of the patient's anger, you should

If you find yourself the target of the patient's anger, you should

• A. Be safe
• B. Do not take the anger personally
• C. Be tolerant and not defensive
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

When a patient is angry, the priority is safety while you work to de-escalate. Being safe means keeping a comfortable distance, staying aware of exits, and getting help if you feel threatened. Not taking the anger personally helps you respond without getting drawn into a personal conflict—the emotion is about the situation or health stress, not you as a person. Being tolerant and not defensive means listening, validating feelings, speaking calmly, and avoiding arguing or blaming. Put together, these approaches address the situation comprehensively, so the best course is to do all of the above. If needed, use a calm, supportive statement like, “I’m here to help. Let’s work through what’s upsetting you.”

When a patient is angry, the priority is safety while you work to de-escalate. Being safe means keeping a comfortable distance, staying aware of exits, and getting help if you feel threatened. Not taking the anger personally helps you respond without getting drawn into a personal conflict—the emotion is about the situation or health stress, not you as a person. Being tolerant and not defensive means listening, validating feelings, speaking calmly, and avoiding arguing or blaming. Put together, these approaches address the situation comprehensively, so the best course is to do all of the above. If needed, use a calm, supportive statement like, “I’m here to help. Let’s work through what’s upsetting you.”