A 33-year-old patient has been told that her disease is terminal. The patient is crying and states, "l will just be a dependent drain on my family. I hate being a burden to them." The nurse can best respond:

"l know. would feel terrible if I had been told I was dying."

"Is there any reason to tell your family about this now? You still have some time in which you can enjoy life."

"You have heard some very bad news today. Can you describe what you mean by burden?"

"l doubt that your loving family will view your terminal care as a burden."

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

Option C is the best response because it acknowledges the patient's feelings of being a burden on her family and encourages her to express her concerns further. By asking the patient to describe what she means by burden, the nurse demonstrates empathy, active listening, and a willingness to understand the patient's perspective. This approach opens the door for therapeutic communication and allows the nurse to explore the patient's feelings and concerns more deeply.

A. "I know. I would feel terrible if I had been told I was dying." This response does not effectively address the patient's concerns or provide therapeutic communication. It shifts the focus from the patient's feelings to the nurse's hypothetical reaction, which may invalidate the patient's emotions and fail to address her immediate needs.

B. "Is there any reason to tell your family about this now? You still have some time in which you can enjoy life." This response minimizes the patient's emotions and fails to acknowledge her distress about feeling like a burden to her family. It also suggests avoiding communication with her family, which may not be in line with the patient's values or preferences regarding sharing important information.

C. "You have heard some very bad news today. Can you describe what you mean by burden?" This response acknowledges the patient's feelings and invites further discussion about her concerns. By encouraging the patient to describe her feelings of being a burden, the nurse demonstrates empathy and validates the patient's emotions, which can promote therapeutic communication and understanding.

D. "I doubt that your loving family will view your terminal care as a burden." While this response attempts to provide reassurance, it may come across as dismissive of the patient's feelings and concerns. It assumes how the patient's family will react without addressing the patient's immediate emotional needs or exploring her perspective further.

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Correct Answer is E

Explanation

A. Depression: Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair. The statement "She's not that sick!" does not directly reflect depressive symptoms.

B. Acceptance: Acceptance is the final stage in Kübler-Ross's stages of dying, characterized by coming to terms with one's impending death or loss. The statement does not indicate acceptance of the situation.

C. Bargaining: Bargaining involves attempts to negotiate or make deals to change the outcome of a situation, often in exchange for a better outcome. The statement does not suggest bargaining behavior.

D. Anger: Anger involves feelings of frustration, resentment, or hostility towards the situation or others. While the statement could potentially lead to anger in others, it does not directly express anger itself. E. Denial: Denial is the initial stage where individuals refuse to accept the reality of their situation or the severity of their illness. The statement "She's not that sick!" directly reflects denial, as it indicates a refusal to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation.

A. "Things will get easier with time. Time has a way of healing even the most painful losses." B. "Helen is in a better place; you should be glad she isn't suffering anymore." C. "We certainly did, and I'm going to miss her help—she was a real expert." D. "Helen wouldn't want to see you crying—she would rather you smile and remember the good times," and give him a hug. "

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A. This statement may minimize the neighbor's grief by suggesting that time will automatically make things easier. While time can help with the grieving process, it is important to acknowledge and validate the neighbor's current feelings.

B. This statement may unintentionally invalidate the neighbor's grief by implying that he should be happy because his wife is no longer suffering. It disregards the neighbor's current emotional state and may not provide comfort.

C. This statement acknowledges the neighbor's gesture and his shared love of gardening with his wife, Helen. It validates his grief and provides an opportunity for the nurse to express her own appreciation for Helen's expertise, which may help the neighbor feel understood and supported.

D. This statement may pressure the neighbor to suppress his emotions and put on a façade of happiness, which could be detrimental to his grieving process. Additionally, suggesting what Helen would want may not be helpful in this situation, as grief is a personal and individual experience.

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A 33-year-old patient has been told that her disease is terminal. The patient is crying and states, "l will just be a dependent drain on my family. I hate being a burden to them." The nurse can best respond:

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Directions: Correlate the behavior with Kübler-Ross's stages of dying from the choices below. "She's not that sick!"

Correct Answer is E

Explanation

A neighbor who was widowed 2 months ago gives the nurse his wife Helen's gardening books "because the two of you loved flowers." He tries to hold back tears, but begins to cry. To decrease his discomfort, the nurse should say:

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

When the nurse notes an increase in the level of daily function in the terminal patient, the nurse assesses that this patient has reached Kübler Ross's level of:

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