A patient is admitted with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) says he had a very stressful experience when in high school and has never really recovered. What is the most appropriate nursing action?
a. Encourage the patient to talk about what caused the traumatic event.
b. Guide the patient in relaxation techniques to distract him when flashbacks occur.
c. Provide sleeping medication so that he can sleep at night.
d. Allow the patient to talk about his condition as often as he likes.