A college student reports tingling sensations and chest tightness. What priority nursing action should you take?

In cases where a college student reports tingling sensations and chest tightness, the priority nursing action involves addressing the potential causes of these symptoms. These sensations can often be linked to hyperventilation, which may occur in response to anxiety or panic. Having the student breathe into a paper bag is a technique that can help restore normal carbon dioxide levels in the blood by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide that is exhaled. This method can provide quick relief from symptoms that stem from hyperventilation, making it a timely and non-invasive first step in management.

The other options, while they may play a role in further assessment or treatment, are not the immediate priority in this scenario. Notifying the physician might be necessary eventually, but the initial management of the student's acute symptoms is more urgent. Administering supplemental oxygen is typically reserved for cases where there is a clear indication of hypoxia or respiratory distress, which has not yet been confirmed in this situation. Obtaining an order for an anxiolytic medication might be appropriate if anxiety is confirmed as the cause, but this step comes after initial symptomatic management. Therefore, the focus is on addressing the immediate sensations experienced by the student, making the breathing technique the most appropriate action at this moment.