The nurse is caring for a football player hospitalized for ankle surgery. the patient communicates properly during the interview. the nurse finds a quiver in the patient's voice as he expresses his worry about not being able to play. the nurse observes that the patient has fidgety hands and legs. the nurse concludes that the patient is uncertain about his ability to play postsurgery. which data cluster the nurse determine anxiety is present

1-Verbal expression of worry

2-Fidgety hands and legs

3-Quiver in the client's voice while talking

The client's verbal expression of worry, fidgety hands and legs, and a quiver in voice are defining characteristics. A defining characteristic is a clinical criterion that is observable and verifiable. These data support the diagnosis of anxiety. Impending ankle surgery and hospitalization are related factors and do not define the data cluster, which is a set of signs or symptoms gathered during assessment and grouped together in a logical way.