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Generalized Anxiety Disorder — NCLEX Cheat Sheet

Excess worry ≥ 6 months

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👤 By the CinnaRN Clinical Content Team 🕐 Updated 2026-07-11 🏷️ Psychosocial Integrity 🔖 Free to read, print, and share

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Use this quick-reference guide to spot, treat, and prevent Generalized Anxiety Disorder on the NCLEX. Keep it handy during review and on exam day!

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Signs

What to look for

Uncontrollable worry, restlessness
Muscle tension, fatigue, irritable
↓ concentration, sleep trouble

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Do

Nursing actions

Calm, low-stim, stay with pt
Deep breathing, grounding skills
Short simple sentences

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Meds

Key numbers

SSRIs = first-line long-term
Buspirone non-addictive; benzos short-term

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Avoid

Key facts

Don't flood w/ info during panic
Limit caffeine, no long-term benzos

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Quick Tip

Persistent, uncontrollable worry about multiple everyday concerns is the central feature.

📖 Related Topics

Therapeutic Communication Techniques Defense Mechanisms Crisis Intervention Grief and Loss

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